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A CAPTIVE. FRONTISPIECE. 



HISTORICALS 



FOR 



THE YOUNG FOLKS 



By ORO NOQXJE. 







^Boston: 
Published by <D. Xoihrop & Co. 

(Dover, jV. H.: G. T. (Day & Co. 

1274. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, 

By BESSIE C. BLAKEMAN, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



Bockwklx & Chukchttx, Printers, 
122 Washington St., Boston. 



PREFACE, 



The time will probably never come when the school histories of 
America shall be so crowded with valuable records that there will 
not be room for a sketch of the lives of Columbus and Washington. 
Still, there are many interesting biographies and incidents for 
which there is not space in those books for anything more than a 
passing notice. We are well aware that there are large historical 
works where all these subjects are thoroughly handled by abler 
pens than our own, but there are many readers who do not have 
access to such books. Our object has been to collect and arrange, 
in the form of a continuous narrative, an account of a few charac- 
ters and events in so small a volume that it shall be within the 
means of all who wish to obtain more information on these topics 
than is given in works prepared only for study. 

From various modern histories we have gleaned whatever we 
thought of interest in connection with our subjects. We have en- 
deavored to be accurate in all our statements, and where there has 
been a difference of opinion in regard to an} date or occurrence, 
have selected the oldest and most authentic record. The sad story 
of Andre the writer heard, when a child, from the lips of the then 
venerable Jabez H. Tomlinson, Esq., the officer of the guard who 
was with him the night before his execution. In a special manner 
our thanks are due to J. W. Barber, Esq., the engraver of the 
chart and illustrations in this book, for the useful knowledge 
acquired from his historical works. 

We send forth these pages, hoping they may prove both inter- 
esting and instructive to the Young Folks, to whom tht> u.e auec- 
tionatelv dedicated. Org Noque, 



CONTENTS 



Capt. John Smith, 



Pocahontas. 



Massasoit, 



Indian Customs, 



I. 



II. 



III. 



IV. 



V. 



Apostle to the Indians, 
VI. 



Sir William Phipps, 



VII. 



Salem Witchcraft, 



Roger Williams, 



VIIL 



IX. 



King Philip's War, . . 
(v) 



7 
18 

23 
29 
42 

49 

57 
61 
66 



VI CONTENTS. 

X. 

William Penn, ...... 75 

XI. 
The Dunstan Family, . . . .81 

XII. 
Uncas, S6 

XIII. 

Heights of Abraham, .... 97 

XIV. 9 

Israel Putnam, 101 

XV. 
Ethan Allen, no 

XVI. 

Arnold, the Traitor, . . . .117 

XVII. 
Andre, the Spy, . m a 126 

XVIII. 
Benjamin Franklin, . . . ". .132 

XIX. 
Independence, 1^ 

XX. 
LaFayette, . . . . . .158 



Historicals for the Young Folks. 



CAPT. JOHN SMITH. 

One of the most wide-awake men, who landed in 
Virginia in 1607, was Capt. John Smith. From his 
boyhood he showed a roving nature, and seemed 
bent on some daring enterprise. 

At the age of thirteen he intended to give up 
study and go to sea, but the death of his father 
placed him under the power of guardians who, in 
order to prevent it, apprenticed him to a merchant, 
and he was confined all day in a counting-house. 
After two years, Smith contrived to escape, and with 
only ten shillings in his pocket, which his friends 
had given him, as he says, "to get rid of him," he 
entered the train of a young nobleman and went to 
France. As his attendant, he visited Paris and 
many other cities, but when they arrived at Orleans, 
Lord Bertie dismissed him, with money sufficient 
to return to his home in Willoughby, England. 
Smith preferred to visit theLow Countries, where a 
war was then raging, and soon finding himself with- 
out money or friends, he joined the army. 

For more than three years he lived a soldier's 

(7) 



8 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

life, until one, he considered a gentleman, persuaded 
him, with false promises, to go to Scotland. After 
his arrival, being again left to his own resources, he 
visited his native place. Not liking his relatives, 
he retired from society, built himself a booth in the 
woods with the boughs of trees, and spent his time 
in hunting, studying military tactics, and practicing 
with his horse and lance. When Smith was nine- 
teen years of age, some of his father's estate, about 
which there had been a dispute, came into his pos- 
session. He started to travel about the world. On 
his way to France he became acquainted with a 
young man of pleasing manners, who pretended to 
be an Earl, but proved to be a rascal, for, with the 
aid of the shipmaster, he robbed him, and as soon 
as the vessel landed, made his escape. Smith, 
anxious to pursue his travels, sought for a situation 
on board a man-of-war. When looking about for a 
ship that would receive him, he accidentally met the 
thief who had stolen all his property. Without 
speaking they both drew their swords, the struggle 
for a few minutes was severe, but Smith at last dis- 
armed and wounded his enemy, and obliged him to 
confess his guilt. After this adventure he traveled 
along the coast of France, until he reached Mar- 
seilles, where he sailed on a vessel with some pil- 
grims for Italy. During the voyage a violent storm 
arose, and then contrary winds ; those on board 
thought it was because they had a heretic with them, 
so they served him, as in olden time some mariners 
in like circumstances did 2 passenger, only it was 
in anger, and without Smith's consent; they took him 



CAPT. JOHN SMITH. 9 

up and cast him into the sea. Being a good swim- 
mer, he soon reached the island of St. Mary, where 
he was taken on board a ship for Egypt. He went 
to Alexandria and spent a few days, then decided to 
return in the same vessel to Italy. The sailors 
spent some time in coasting like pirates in the 
Levant, Smith assisted them, and on leaving the 
crew received two thousand dollars as his portion 
of a rich prize they had taken during the trip. 

He now traveled through Italy to Austria, which 
was then at war with Turkey. He entered the 
army as a volunteer, and, by means of his military 
knowledge and valor, he was soon promoted to 
the command of two hundred and fifty horsemen. 
During the tedious siege of Regal, a Turkish lord, 
named Turbisha, sent a challenge to the Austrian 
army, saying, that for the diversion of the ladies 
of the place, he would fight any single captain 
in the enemy's troops. The officers were all so 
anxious for the honor, they had to cast lots in 
order to decide who should be selected. The lot 
fell upon Smith. At the hour appointed, the com- 
batants appeared in the field on horseback. It was 
an imposing spectacle. On the opposite sides were 
the soldiers of the opposing armies ; in front, the 
battlements of the town covered with spectators, 
among whom were ladies of the highest rank, all 
anxiously awaiting the result. The conflict was 
short but desperate, and soon Smith was seen carry- 
ing the head of his lifeless antagonist to his general. 
**** received and acceded another challenge from a 
f Turbisha, who wished to avenge his death, 



% 

IO HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

and he was again the victor. Smith now thought 
it his turn to propose. He sent a message, inform- 
ing the Turkish ladies, if they wished for any more 
diversion of this kind, they were welcome to his 
head, if they had a champion who could take it. A 
haughty Turk, named Bonamalgro, accented this 
challenge. 

A multitude assembled to witness the encounter. 
The stillness of death seemed to rest on the crowd 
as the two warriors drew near to each other. 

The Turk struck Smith so violently with his saber, 
that he fell to the ground, and many thought he 
was killed. The Turkish army be~an to rejoice, but 
Smith soon recovered himself, leaped upon his sad- 
dle and fought desperately, until this champion fell 
like the rest. 

The prince of the province of Transylvania was 
so pleased with Smith's bravery, he granted him a 
pension of three hundred ducats a year, presented 
him with his picture set in gold, and conferred 
on him a coat-of-arms consisting of three Turks' 
heads in a shield. Sometime afterwards Smith was 
wounded in battle, and taken prisoner by a company 
of Turks and Tartars. As soon as his wounds were 
healed he was sold to a man who sent him to his 
wife in Constantinople for a servant. Smith was 
treated kindly by his mistress, and when he dis- 
covered that she could speak the Italian language, 
he gave her such an account of his life as won her 
interest and affection. She sent him to her brother 
to have him educated in the customs and religion 
of the Tartars. He was a cruel ruler, and instead 



CAPT. JOHN SMITH. II 

of teaching Smith, as his sister requested, made 
him a slave. He took away his clothes and dressed 
him in a rough garment, put an iron collar about 
his neck, and, at times, would beat him without 
mercy. One day, when Smith was threshing a long 
way from the house, his master came and treated 
him in such a cruel manner, his impatient spirit 
could bear it no longer, he struck him with his 
threshing instrument and he fell insensible to the 
ground. Seizing a bag of grain, Smith jumped upon 
the Tartar's horse and rode rapidly to the desert. 
He lived in secrecy a few days, until he had an op- 
portunity to escape, one night, from the country. 
After traveling two weeks he met a Russian soldier, 
who treated him with kindness, and assisted him in 
reaching his friends in Austria. They supplied him 
with money, and again he started on his way. He 
traveled in Russia, Germany, France and Spain ; 
at last, returned to England, just at the time when 
all the people were interested in the settlement of 
America. 

Smith joined an expedition to sajl to Virginia, 
under Capt. Newport, and was appointed one of the 
council. During the voyage some of the officers 
became jealous of his superior abilities and influ- 
ence, and unjustly kept him a close prisoner. When 
they landed, Smith demanded a fair trial, but it was 
not granted until the colony was in trouble, and in 
want of his assistance, then he was cleared of all 
the charges brought against him. 

He was of an impetuous, but not revengeful spirit, 
and directly set himself to work to protect the colony. 



12 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

The Indians were very troublesome. Some years 
before, Sir Richard Grenville and his crew had 
stopped there, and because they suspected an Indian 
of stealing a silver cup, they made an attack upon 
an Indian village, murdered some of the inhabitants, 
and burned the wigwams to the ground. This was 
the reason the settlers of Jamestown were not re- 
ceived as kindly by the Indians as those in other 
places. Smith built a fort for protection against 
them, then sought their acquaintance, and began to 
learn their language. When the colonists were in 
want of provision, he would obtain it from the Indians 
in various ways. Sometimes by coaxing, at other 
times buying it, giving small articles in the place 
of money. He was not always just, for at one time 
when they were in a very destitute condition, he 
made an excursion into the country, stole an Indian 
idol called Okee, which was made of skins and stuffed 
with moss, and carried it off. When the natives 
saw it in his possession, they offered to give him all 
the corn he wanted, if he would restore the image* 
for it was one they highly prized. In a few months 
Smith was made president of the colony, still he 
continued his expeditions. One day, when exploring 
a river, he left most of the crew in the boat, and> 
with two Indians and two Englishmen, went on 
shore. They ventured too far into the country, and 
were pursued by a party of Indians, who killed two 
of their number with arrows. Smith bound his 
young Indian guide to his breast, and for some time 
kept the savages at bay. He killed three Indians 
and wounded others, but, in trying to escape to the 



CAPT. JOHN SMITH. 1 3 

boat, he went into a swamp and sank to his waist 
in mud. Though in a half-frozen condition, not one 
of the two hundred Indians dare touch him until 
he laid down his musket. Then they carried him 
to a fire they had kindled, bound him and tied him 
to a tree, and were about to use him for a target, 
when Smith, being apt in resources, and well ac- 
quainted with the curiosity of the Indians, drew 
his ivory compass from his pocket and showed it to 
their leader. His attention was drawn to the motion 
of the needle and to the glass over it, which was a 
great mystery to him. Smith told him about the 
shape of the earth, "and how the sun did chase the 
night around about the world continually." His 
knowledge led the natives to look upon him with 
wonder and almost reverence. To increase this 
feeling, he told them, if they would go to a certain 
place in the forest, the next day, they would find 
some articles they wanted. At the same time he 
wrote a message on a strip of paper, and sent it by 
his guide to his friends, giving directions to have 
the articles all in the right place. The Indians, not 
understanding the writing, now looked upon Smith 
as a superior being. 

Instead of killing, they carried him in triumph 
from one village to another, and at last to their chief 
Powhatan, who lived at Orapax. Here he was to 
remain a prisoner until a council of warriors could 
meet to decide his fate. 

In the meantime, Smith busied himself in assist- 
ing the children of the chief in making their beads 
and baskets, and amusing them in various ways. 



14 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

With his kind manner, he gained the affection of 
Powhatan's youngest daughter, and she was after- 
wards the means of saving his life, and of his being 
returned to Jamestown. Smith showed the Indian 
guides who were sent by the chief to accompany 
him to the settlement, every attention in his power. 
The morning before they left, he ordered a cannon 
to be loaded with shot, and fired into a tree covered 
with icicles, so as to impress them with its effect. 
The Indians were delighted, and wanted to purchase 
one, but found it too heavy to carry. Smith gave 
them a small grindstone, some knives and other 
articles, and they returned to their chief, well pleased 
with their journey. The colony had suffered so 
much from scarcity of provisions and disease, during 
the absence of their leader, their number was re- 
duced to thirty-eight persons. These had decided 
to return to England. Smith was determined to 
prevent it. He coaxed and entreated, but all in vain ; 
at last he resorted to force. When they began to 
descend the river, he turned the guns of the fort 
towards them and said he should fire unless they 
returned. They promised to remain for a few weeks 
longer. Within that time a ship arrived with a 
quantity of provision and one hundred and twenty 
emigrants. Thus, by the energy and perseverance 
of one man, a permanent settlement was made in 
Virginia. The next year the colony was afflicted 
with the gold fever. Some of the new comers were 
goldsmiths, and they found a shining substance on 
the banks of a small river, which they said was gold 
dust. Many of the colonists came to this country 



CAPT. JOHN SMITH. 1 5 

to acquire wealth, and now they expected to make 
their fortunes. Smith tried to persuade some of 
them to cultivate the ground, but to no purpose. He 
says, "There was no thought, no discourse, no hope 
and no work, but to dig gold, wash gold, refine gold 
and load gold." A vessel was at last filled and sent 
to England, and the gold dust proved to be minute 
particles of shining stone. Smith left them digging, 
and started off to explore. He went to the head of 
the Chesapeake Bay, discovered its large rivers, and 
gained much knowledge of the productions and in- 
habitants of the country. On his return, he was 
again elected president of the colony. In the year 
1609, a company of five hundred emigrants, in nine 
ships, sailed for Virginia, with the good Lord Dela- 
ware, appointed governor for life. As he was not 
ready to sail with the fleet, Capt. Newport had com- 
mand of the ships, and Sir Thomas Gates and Sir 
George Somers were delegated to govern the colony 
until his arrival. A terrible storm separated the 
vessels, and the one containing the officers was 
driven upon the Bermuda Islands, where they had 
to remain for weeks. Some of the ships in which 
the most lawless characters embarked, arrived safely. 
These men soon created great disturbance in the 
settlement. They refused to work, and said Smith 
should not rule over them. It was well for the 
colony at this time that their president was a man 
of power. Smith promptly gave these men their 
choice to labor for six hours each day, or have noth- 
ing to eat. They were indignant that they should 
be compelled to work, and expressed their feelings 



l6 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

in very profane language. Smith ordered the oaths 
to be counted daily, and at night, as many cans 
of water poured into the sleeve of each as he had 
uttered oaths during the day. This severe but 
wise discipline soon restored the colony to its usual 
state of quiet and industry. In the autumn of the 
same year, Smith was wounded by an accidental ex- 
plosion of gunpowder, and went to England for 
medical advice. In the spring of 1614, Capt. Smith 
sailed from London with two ships, and explored 
the coast from Maine to Cape Cod. He drew a map 
of the country, which, on his return, he presented 
to Prince Charles, with a glowing descriptipn, and 
the hint that so fine a country should not be with- 
out a name. The Prince decided to call it New 
England. In the year 16 15, Captain Smith started 
again for the same coast, intending to form a settle- 
ment, but he was chased by the pirates several times, 
and at last taken by a French man-of-war. The 
crew was allowed to return to Plymouth with the 
vessel, but they held Capt. Smith as a prisoner. 
On board this ship he wrote an account of his voy- 
age to New England, which was published the next 
year. When they stopped at Rochelle, Capt. Smith 
escaped from the ship and returned to London. 
The Plymouth Company made him admiral of New 
England for his important services. 

The remainder of his life he spent in his native 
land. He devoted his time to writing and circula- 
ting several books about his adventures and discov- 
eries. In one of those works, he says, "I have 
spent five years and more than five hundred pounds 



CAPT. JOHN SMITH. 1 7 

in the service of Virginia and New England ; yet, 
in neither of two countries have I one foot of land, 
nor the very house I builded, nor the ground I 
digged with my own hands, nor ever any content or 
satisfaction at all, and though I see, ordinarily, those 
two countries shared before me by them that 
neither have them nor know them but by my de- 
scriptions." Two of his most important books were 
reprinted in this country, in Richmond, in 1818. 

Captain Smith deserves great credit for his efforts 
to establish permanent settlements in this country. 
He was a man who could gain, if he desired, great 
power over those with whom he associated, but being 
of an ardent, determined nature, and sometimes un- 
yielding in his views, he made enemies who deprived 
him of his just reward. Capt. Smith died in London 
in 165 1, in the fifty-second year of his age. 



1 8 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



II. 

POCAHONTAS. 

This beautiful Indian girl was the youngest and fa- 
vorite daughter of the powerful chief, Powhatan. She 
was about twelve years of age when Captain John 
Smith was taken by the Indians and kept by her 
father as a prisoner. Pocahontas was bright, active, 
intelligent, and very pleasing in her appearance. 
She soon became greatly interested in the white 
captive. Captain Smith encouraged her attention 
and friendship by treating her in a kind and con- 
siderate manner ; very different from what females 
received from men in her own nation. He assisted 
her in her labors, and amused her at her plays. At 
first she looked upon him with reverence, but before 
the seven weeks of his captivity had passed, he 
gained a hold on her affections which lasted as long 
as life. 

When the council of warriors met to try his case, 
they decided that a man of such courage and knowl- 
edge as Captain Smith was dangerous to the Indians, 
and his brains must be beaten out with a club. As 
he was a person of note, the honor of killing him 
was awarded to Powhatan. 

When Pocahontas heard of the decision, she was 
filled with grief, and pleaded earnestly for his life, but 
all in vain. The day for the execution of the sen- 



POCAHONTAS. 



l 9 



tence arrived. The family of the chief, with a large 
crowd of Indians, assembled to witness the cruel deed. 
Two stones were brought, and Captain Smith's 
head placed upon them. All hope of life for him 
had fled. Powhatan raised his arm to strike the 
fatal blow. At that instant, Pocahontas sprang for- 
ward, clasped the head of Smith in her arms, and 
laid her own upon it, so if the club fell, it must first 
fall upon herself. This brave act, with the piteous 
looks of the young girl, touched the stern heart of 
the chief, and, after a short consultation with his 
warriors, he decided to spare Captain Smith's life. 
In a few days he was allowed to return to the colony; 
when he arrived there he sent handsome presents 
to his deliverer and her father. The friendship of 
Pocahontas continued, and, " with her wild train, she 
visited Jamestown as freely as her father's habita- 
tion." When the colonists were in want of provis- 
ion, she would go with her attendants and carry 
large baskets of corn, and relieve them in various 
ways. The English increased so rapidly, the Indians 
became jealous of their power, and, in the year 
1609, formed a plan to make a sudden attack on the 
settlement, and kill every white person. 

Pocahontas showed her attachment by going alone 
one dark and stormy night to Jamestown, and telling 
Captain Smith all she knew of the affair. He im- 
mediately took measures to put the colony in a 
state of defense. The Indians, seeing their design 
was discovered, gave up the project. 

From this time, Pocahontas was suspected by 
some of her own tribe, of being in league with the 



20 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

English. She was treated very unkindly by them, 
and even her father was influenced to withhold his 
affection from her. 

On this account, in the year 1610, after Captain 
Smith had left the colony, she went on a visit to the 
family of the chief of the Potomacs. A Captain Ar- 
gall, who was trading along the river, heard of it, and 
thought if he could secure her, Powhatan would not 
dare to trouble the colony. He talked with some 
of the Indians of the tribe, and with the bribe of a 
copper kettle, he induced them to bring her to visit 
the vessel. As soon as Pocahontas was safely on 
board, he sailed for Jamestown, and there he de- 
tained her until terms of peace could be made with 
her father. When Powhatan heard of this treach- 
erous act, he was very angry, and determined to 
rescue her. Some historians state that he offered 
five hundred bushels of corn for her ransom, but, 
on as good authority, it is stated that he was pre- 
paring for war, and if she was not speedily released 
he intended to take her by force. Be that as it 
may, before any course was decided upon, negotia- 
tions of a different character were being made 
between Pocahontas and a young Englishman by 
the name of Rolfe. This settled the matter. Pow- 
hatan gave his consent to the union, and the mar- 
riage was celebrated with great ceremony in James- 
town, in April, 161 3. The event led to a peace of 
many years' duration between the Indians and the 
English. Before Pocahontas was married, she em- 
braced the Christian religion, and was baptized with 
the name of Rebecca. 



POCAHONTAS. 21 

In the year 1616, Pocahontas, in company with 
her husband and Sir Thomas Dale, visited England. 
She was introduced to the royal family as a princess, 
and rooms were offered her in the palace during her 
stay. Crowds followed her wherever she went, for 
she was an object of interest to all classes. Pow- 
hatan sent one of his warriors with her as reporter. 
lie carried a long stick, and was to make a notch in 
it for every person he saw. He found it impossible to 
keep the record in this way. On his return, when 
questioned as to the number of persons he had seen, 
he replied, " Count the stars in the sky, the leaves 
on the trees, or the sands on the shore, for such is 
the number of the English." 

When Pocahontas was in London, Captain Smith 
called upon her. She was very much surprised and 
affected. After the first salutation, she buried her 
face in her hands, and remained in that position 
without speaking for a long time. Then she con- 
versed with him freely about the past, and frequently 
called him her father, For some reason, her hus- 
band and other friends had taught her to believe 
that Captain Smith was dead. This accounts for 
her strange conduct when first meeting him in 
England. The change of climate, and the excite- 
ment of her life, affected her health, and, as she was 
about to return to America, she died suddenly at 
the age of twenty-two years. She left an infant 
son named Thomas Rolfe, who was educated by an 
uncle in London. In after life he came to Virginia, 
and became a man of influence in the colony. He 
had several daughters, who inherited the large tracts 



22 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

of land belonging to their grandmother. Hence, the 
descendants of Pocahontas soon ranked among the 
wealthiest families in the State of Virginia. It may 
not be out of place, in this connection, to relate an 
incident which occurred after an interval of more 
than a century, to one who was in the direct line 
of descent from the Indian princess. He was a 
planter of great wealth and good abilities, but very 
proud and aristocratic. He was a member @f Con- 
gress at the same time with Roger Sherman of 
Connecticut, who, by hard study and his good 
judgment, had raised himself from a shoemaker's 
bench to fill the same office. The two men were 
engaged in discussing a very important question. 
The gentleman from Virginia, being unable to reply 
to the arguments of his opponent, answered with 
ridicule, and inquired what he did with his leather 
apron when he came to Congress. Quick as thought, 
Sherman replied, "Cut it up to make moccasins 
for the descendants of Pocahontas ! " 



MASSASOIT. . 23 



III. 

MASSASOIT. 

When the Puritans landed at Plymouth, before 
they left the vessel, they sent out explorers to see 
what they could discover. It was not long before 
some of them returned, bringing baskets of corn 
which they found buried in the sand, and said they 
had seen an Indian burying ground, with a fence 
around it, made of stakes driven into the earth. 
One day some of them wandered so far they could 
not return before dark, so they kindled a fire to keep 
off the wild beasts, and spent the night in the woods. 
In the morning, some arrows, pointed with bird's 
claws, fell among them, and they saw a party of 
Indians coming towards them, as if ready for an 
attack. They fired their guns, and the savages ran 
as if very much frightened, for at that time they 
believed the flash of the musket was lightning, and 
the report thunder. During the remainder of the 
winter, the men in the colony were all busily at 
work on the nineteen loghouses, which the one 
hundred and one, who came in the Mayflower, were 
to have for their homes. All this time they were 
on a lookout for Indians, but none appeared, until 
the sixteenth of March, when the people were greatly 
surprised by seeing a bold Indian marching alone 
through the village, shouting, " Welcome, English- 



24 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

men ! Welcome, Englishmen ! " He said his name 
was Samoset, and that he learned to speak English 
of some fishermen who had visited the coast He 
told them that a few years before a great plague 
swept over that region, and the men, women and 
children died so fast, there was not time to bury 
them. He said that the tribe, numbering many 
thousands, was reduced to a few hundred, leaving a 
large tract of land unoccupied. Then the Puritans 
thanked God that there was room for them in 
this New World. Samoset was treated so kindly 
that he came again in a few days, bringing with him 
his friend, named Squanto, who was very bright, and 
had seen a good deal of the world for an Indian. 
Six years before, he was carried off in a vessel by a 
Captain Hunt, and sold in Spain. He was then 
taken to London, and from that city returned to 
America. Squanto afterwards proved to be of great 
service to the colonists ; he showed them about 
planting and gathering Indian corn, which they had 
never seen until they came to this country. He was 
always very friendly, and often acted as guide and 
interpreter for them. One pleasant spring morning, 
Squanto came into the village with the news that 
Massasoit, the great Indian chief, was on the hill 
opposite, with his brother and sixty warriors, and 
he wanted the English to send a man to talk with 
him. 

At first, the colonists hesitated from fear ; soon, 
Mr. Edward Winslow, a brave and very pleasant 
man, offered his services, and was accepted. He 
carried a present, consisting of two knives, a copper 



massasoit. 25 

chain, with a jewel in it, and some biscuits and but- 
ter, with which to treat the natives. Massasoit re- 
ceived him kindly, and appeared much pleased with 
the gifts. When Mr. Winslow told him the white 
men wanted to dwell in this country, and asked him 
to go and see the governor about it, he readily con- 
sented. 

Before he started, however, he told Mr. Winslow 
he must remain in that place, with a party of his 
men as a hostage, to insure his safe return. Massa- 
soit took the bows and arrows away from the twenty 
Indians who were to accompany him, and then 
started towards the village. Captain Miles Standish 
went out to meet him, with his military company, 
all dressed in their red coats, and some of them 
playing on drums and fifes. The music gave 
great delight to the Indians. They took dinner at 
the house of Governor Carver, and it is said that 
Massasoit ate very heartily, and drank a large 
draught of rum. After dinner, a treaty of peace 
was made with the chief, which was faithfully kept 
for more than fifty years. The next year, Governor 
Bradford, with consent of the colony, sent two men, 
with Squanto for their guide, to see how Massasoit 
was situated, and the strength of his forces. They 
also wanted to purchase some seed corn, and make 
an agreement with the Indians to sell the furs they 
had collected to persons in the colony, instead of dis- 
posing of them to the sailors who visited the coast. 
Governor Bradford sent Massasoit a red coat and a 
chain, with other presents. After traveling forty 
miles through the forest and over the hills, and 

2 



26 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

spending one night with the earth for a bed, the 
leaves for a blanket, and the sky for a covering, they 
at last arrived at the wigwam of the chief. Massa- 
soit appeared very glad to see them ; he put on his 
coat with help, placed the chain about his neck, and 
then strutted about as if very proud of his good 
looks ! When the white men made known their 
errand, the chief called his counselors about him, 
who were all tall, finely -formed men. He then made 
a speech to them, in which he said, "Am not I, Mas- 
sasoit, commander of this country around you ? Is 
not such a town mine, and the people of it ? Will 
you not bring your skins to the English?" In this 
way he named as many as thirty places, to every 
one of which they gave consent, and in a loud man- 
ner applauded the speaker. But when their chief 
was talking, they all gave the closest attention, and 
not even a whisper was heard. The Englishmen 
learned that Massasoit was the Sachem, or ruler of 
several tribes, and was held in great respect among 
the Indians. The next morning the three men 
started for home, with as much corn as they could 
carry, and in two days they arrived at Plymouth, 
where all rejoiced at the success of their journey. 

In the spring of 1623, news came to the colony 
that Massasoit was sick, and probably near unto 
death. Mr. Winslow started directly for the resi- 
dence of the chief. On his arrival, he found him 
lying on a bed made of planks, raised about a foot 
from the ground, and covered with mats and skins. 
He was very sick, and his head was so swollen that 
he was almost blind. When Massasoit heard that 



MASSASOIT, 27 

Mr. Winslow had come, he stretched out his hand 
towards him and said in his"*broken English, "Art 
thou Winsnow ? O, Winsnow I I shall never see 
thee more." Kind Mr. Winslow applied some rem- 
edy to the swelling which relieved the pain, gave 
him some medicine, and he recovered. 

Massasoit then told him of a plot formed among 
some of the Indians against the whites, for he said^ 
"Now I know the English love me." He assured 
them that the way to prevent war was to kill 
only the conspirators. His advice was followed, 
and it was this act which led the good old minister, 
Mr. Robinson, to write to the colonists, " O that you 
had converted some before you had killed any." In 
justice to the Indians, it should be stated that the 
year before, a party of men, sent from London by a 
Mr. Weston, landed at Plymouth, and were received 
very kindly, but in return, they stole the young corn 
in the fields, and treated the Indians so meanly 
that it led to this trouble. As all were white men, 
the natives very naturally considered all alike guilty. 
The Narragansetts were a powerful tribe of Indians^ 
living farther to the south, in what is now the state 
of Rhode Island. They were the enemies of Mas- 
sasoit, and he was often glad of the friendship of the 
English, as a protection against them. This enraged 
their chief, and he tried to make war with them. He 
sent Governor Bradford a bundle of arrows, tied 
around with a rattlesnake's skin. The Governor 
filled the skin with powder and ball, and sent it 
back to the Narragansett chief, and he heard no 
more of war from that tribe for a long time. 



28 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

When Massasoit was an old man, he suffered, 
much from war with t)ther tribes. The Mohegans 
under their bold leader, Uncas, made an attack in 
the year 1661, killed some of his Indians, and took 
many prisoners. They stole a great quantity of furs 
and other articles. The officers at Plymouth obliged 
them to return the prisoners, but did not obtain 
the goods. Massasoit lived only a few months after 
this event. He was succeeded by his oldest son, 
Alexander, or Wamsutta, who remained on friendly 
terms with the English. 



INDIAN CUSTOMS. 29 



IV. 

INDIAN CUSTOMS. 

How a name clings to a person, or a people ! 
Columbus supposed when he landed at St Salva- 
dor that it was a part of India, and called the na- 
tives Indians ; and until this day the name has 
been applied to the red men of this continent. 
The Indians consisted of many different tribes > 
with nearly the same general habits and manners, 
The men were tall and well-proportioned, with high 
cheek bones and coarse black hair. The women 
were short and clumsy, and rarely noted for their 
beauty. Their dwellings were very simple, some- 
times consisting only of the boughs of trees fast- 
ened together ; but more frequently of huts or 
wigwams made of poles set firmly in the ground 
and bent together towards the top, and then cov- 
ered with pieces of bark or the skins of animals. 
One tribe would often occupy two or three acres, 
building their wigwams very closely together, 
around an open place which they always left in the 
center, to be used for worship, business, and amuse- 
ment. The village was often surrounded by a fence 
from ten to twelve feet in height, made of the 
trunks of young trees driven into the earth. One 
opening was left for an entrance, which was closed 
at night with brush or rough sticks. The Indians 



30 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

lived mostly by hunting and fishing. They were 
very expert in the use of the bow and arrow ; a boy 
of sixteen would hit a mark no larger than a com- 
mon penny, five times out of ten, at a distance of 
twelve or fourteen yards. Their bows were made 
of hickory, and were from three and a half to four 
feet in length, and so strong it required much 
strength and practice to use one. Their arrows 
were made of reeds and small sticks, pointed with 
birds' claws or sharp pieces of stone. In fishing 
they used hooks made of bone, and lines twisted from 
the wild hemp ; the women made fish nets of the 
same material. A rough spear was used in killing 
the large fish, which were sometimes driven on the 
shore. The Indians paid but little attention to cul- 
tivating the ground, and raised only corn and beans. 
They believed in the right of women to do all kinds 
of work. The squaws prepared the ground in the 
spring and planted the corn — in the autumn they 
gathered it, dried it in the sun, and then buried it 
in the earth until it was wanted for use. When 
they traveled from one place to another, the women 
carried all the baggage ; they cooked, took care of 
the children, and were expected to give them all 
the education they had, by remembering every im- 
portant event in the history of the tribe. The men 
were naturally indolent, and thought only of their 
enjoyment at the present time, and lived almost 
entirely without anxiety for the future. After the 
settlement of this country by the English, an observ- 
ing young Indian spent several months with them 
On being questioned as to what he thought of civil- 



INDIAN CUSTOMS. 3 1 

ized life, he replied : " Rich white man just get ready 
to live, then he die : poor Indian live every day." 

The Indian babies were of very light complexion, 
but they gradually grew dark as they increased in 
years, and when they were of age, their skin wa9 
a copper color. The baby, or papoose, was often 
strapped to a board or piece of wood, and set up 
around the wigwam when the mother was busy. 
Sometimes it was placed in a cradle of bark, which 
was fastened to the limb of a tree, to be rocked by 
the wind. No Indian child had any clothes to call 
his own until he was ten or twelve years of age. 
In warm climates he rambled about in nature's 
dress, without the least covering, and even in 
colder ones, his apron was of very small dimen- 
sions. The women had two garments — the under 
one was short and made of leather, ornamented 
with fringe ; the outer garment was longer, and 
often laid aside. Both were fastened on at the 
waist with a belt. The Indians prepared the skins 
of wild beasts for use in a way that made them very 
soft and pliable. The men, in addition to the cov- 
ering about the body, wore leggins of deer skins. 
Moccasins, or shoes of soft leather, were worn by 
both sexes. Sometimes the nobles had valuable 
robes of fur, which they wore about their shoulders 
in a graceful manner. The Indians were fond of 
gay colors. The women painted their skins and 
colored feathers with the juices of plants and ber- 
ries. The men painted when they were going out 
to war, or when they wished to present a frightful 
appearance. Some Indians thought it a disgrace 



32 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

to wear a beard, so plucked out the hair by the 
roots. All were very fond of ornament — the men 
wore long feathers fastened to their heads ; the 
women bracelets of beads upon their wrists, and 
rings of bone, curiously wrought, not only in their 
ears but noses. Their utensils were all very plain 
and few in number. They consisted of wooden 
bowls and spoons, pails made of birch bark, mortars 
and small pipes of stone, and baskets of various 
sizes, capable of holding from a pint to four bushels. 
Their weapons of war were the bow and arrow, the 
war club, and the tomahawk or stone hatchet. 
The Indians made light canoes of bark, which they 
used in fishing ; but larger ones for other purposes 
were constructed from the trunks of trees with 
great care. They at first set the tree on fire at the 
root, and covered the part they wished to preserve 
with water. When it fell, they burnt off the limbs 
in the same way, then with sharp shells and stones 
scraped out where it was charred, and finished it 
very neatly. The Long-Island Indians made the 
best canoes ; they had one long enough to carry 
eighty men. The hatchet of the Indian was very 
different from the one brought by the English. It 
was not used for cutting at all, but was a kind of 
stone sledge, fastened to a rough stick, and it was 
of great service in warfare. Thus, to take up the 
hatchet was to make war ; to bury the hatchet was 
to make peace. The first time the Dutch visited 
New York, or Manhattan Island, they gave the In- 
dians some axes and hoes. The next year, when 
they returned, they found the Indians wearing 



INDIAN CUSTOMS. 33 

them, hanging from their necks for ornaments. 
The sailors placed handles in them, and by the 
means of signs, showed them their use. The In- 
dians laughed heartily at their mistake. With their 
imperfect tools they accomplished some difficult 
work. Their money, or wampum, consisted of 
beads of various colors made from shells, the white 
from the conch, and the purple from the mussel 
shelh Six white beads, or three colored, were 
equal to a penny in value. They were cut very 
nicely, and had a hole in the center, so they could 
be strung, or sewed on to their garments for orna- 
ment. Very valuable belts were given when impor- 
tant treaties were made ; sometimes they were 
thirty inches in length and four in width, made of 
strings of beads fastened together in a curious 
manner. Strings of wampum formed the currency 
of the Indians, for they had no coins. When a 
young Indian wished to marry, he carried a present 
to some female, and if she accepted it, they were 
considered engaged. After a short acquaintance, 
he led her to the chief of the tribe, and if he con- 
sented to the union, he joined the hands of the 
young pair, and they were husband and wife. 
Among the Indians a man was not limited as to the 
number of his wives, but with the exception of 
the chief, they seldom had more than one. The 
women were not allowed to have but one husband ; 
when cruelly treated, a wife could run away if she 
Vvished, and join the enemies of the tribe, where 
she was sure of being kindly received. 

The politeness of the Indians was equal to that 



34 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

ol some civilized nations. They never interrupted 
a speaker, even in common conversation. It was 
considered very impolite for strangers to enter a 
village without first giving notice of their ap- 
proach. If in no other way, they were expected 
to stop and halloo until invited to enter. Two old 
men usually came out and led them in. There 
was in almost every Indian village an empty wig- 
wam, called the stranger's house. Here they were 
placed, and food was carried to them to eat, and 
skins to recline upon. Not until they were rested 
did they enter into conversation. When the stran- 
gers left, no charge was made for entertainment. 
The Indians had no written language, but with signs 
or figures made on bark or trees, they pictured 
many an important event. The following is a copy 
of an Indian gazette, taken by a French officer 
from the American original, with an explanation. 
It relates to a party of Indians, who, soon after the 
settlement of this part of America, took up the 
hatchet in favor of the French, against a hostile 
tribe that adhered to the English. It was obtained 
by Mr. Thomas about the year 1770, and a copy of 
it is inserted in the second volume of his " History 
of Printing :" 

<?'<>.$ K 4> 4> 4> 

4> 4> <)BBH4> 4> * 




4> #> i> 



1. Each of these figures represents the number ten — they all signify 



INDIAN CUSTOMS. 



35 



€> 



that 1 8 times 10, or 180 American Indians took up the hatchet or de- 
clared war in favor of the French, which is represented by the hatchet 
placed over the arms of France. 




2 Thev departed from Montreal— represented by the bird just taking wing 
om the too of a mountain. The moon and the buck show the time to have 



from the top ~* - . --- 

been in the first quarter of the buck-moon, answermg to July. 




3. They went by water — signified by the canoe. The number of huts, such as 
they raise to pass the night in, shows they were 21 days on their passage. 




4. They came on shore and traveled seven days by land— represented by the 
foot and seven huts. 



36 



HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 




5. They arrived near the habitations of their enemies at sunrise — shown 
by the sun being to the eastward of them, beginning, as they think, its daily 
course ; then they lay in wait three days — represented by the hand pointing and 
the three huts. 



£ 4> 4> 




i> 4> <P 



6. After which they surprised their enemies, in number 12 times 10, or 120 
The man asleep shows hf w they surprised them, and the hole in the top of the 
building is supposed to signify that they broke into some of their habitations in 
that manner. 




7. They killed with the club eleven of their enemies and took five prisoners. 
The former represented by the club and the eleven heads; the latter by the figures 
on the little pedestals. 



INDIAN CUSTOMS. 



37 




8. They lost nine of their own men in the action — represented by the nine 
heads within the bow, which is the emblem of honor among the Indians, but had 
none taken prisoners— a circumstance they lay great weight on, shown by all 
the pedestals being empty. 



4 < <— <— < 

< <—< «£~ < 

< ** -< •<; -^ 

< < < » C ^ 



9. The heads of the arrows, pointing opposite ways, represent the battle- 






J>> i> 



10. The heads of the arrows, all pointing the same way, signify the flight of the 
enemy. 



The different tribes each had a dialect of its own, 
still the languages had a general resemblance to 
one another. The Indians used a large number of 
words, and some of them were joined in a way to 
express a great deal of thought. It was a difficult 
language to remember, and required a large stock 



38 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

of patience to master it. Great attention was paid 
among the Indians to speaking in public, for the 
best speaker had the most influence. They liked 
to have a speech reduced to strict order, and pre- 
sented in suclT a way, it could be easily remem- 
bered. They disliked long harangues. They used 
many gestures when speaking, and some of their 
orations were very eloquent. The Indians consid- 
ered the learning we value as useless. In the year 
1744, some commissioners from Virginia informed 
the chiefs of the Six Nations if they would send 
half a dozen of their sons to the college at Williams- 
burg, the government would see that they were well 
provided for and instructed in all the learning of 
the white people. It is a rule of Indian politeness 
not to answer an important question the day it is 
asked, for it would appear as if they treated the 
matter lightly. The next day, however, the best 
speaker replied. After expressing their deep sense 
of the kindness of the offer, he said, " We know 
that you highly esteem the kind of learning taught 
in those colleges, and that the maintenance of our 
young men while with you would be very expen- 
sive to you. We are convinced, therefore, that you 
mean to do us good by your proposal, and we thank 
you heartily. But you, who are wise, must know 
that different nations have different conceptions of 
things, and you will therefore not take it amiss if 
our ideas of this kind of education happen not to 
be the same as yours. We have had some experi- 
ence of it ; several of our young people were for- 
merly brought up at the colleges of the northern 



INDIAN CUSTOMS. 39 

provinces ; they were educated in all your sciences 
but when they came back to us they were bad run- 
ners ; ignorant of every means of living in the 
woods ; unable to bear either cold or hunger ; knew 
neither how to build a wigwam, take a deer, or kill 
an enemy ; spoke our language imperfectly ; were 
therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, or coun- 
selors ; they were totally good for nothing. We 
are, however, not the less obliged by your kind 
offer, though we decline accepting it : and to show 
our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Vir- 
ginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will 
take great care of their education, instruct them in 
all we know, and make men of them." 

Among the Indians, the sachems or chiefs were 
absolute in power. The office was hereditary, and 
it was necessary, in order to inherit it, that the 
mother as well as the father should belong to a royal 
family. There was a class of inferior chiefs called 
sagamores. Every sachem selected a number of 
the oldest and wisest men from his tribe to be his 
counselors, and he conferred with them on every 
matter of importance. The chiefs were supported 
by presents from the tribe. The first fruits of the 
earth and the best caught in hunting or fishing 
were given to him, as well as all spoils taken in war.. 
The Indians had no jails nor prisons ; when a man 
was to be held captive for a few weeks, they tied 
him to a tree or guarded him in a wigwam. Every 
case of punishment was brought before the chief. 
If a man was guilty of stealing, for the first offense 
he was publicly reproved ; if the act was repeated, 



40 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

he was beaten on the bare back with a cudgel. For 
the third offense he had his nostrils slit, so that 
every person who saw him should know better than 
to trust him. If a man murdered another in his 
own tribe, his brains were beaten out with a club, 
or he was stabbed in the heart with a kind of flint 
knife. It was considered a great disgrace by an 
Indian to have any officer lower than the chief 
inflict punishment upon him, but he might punish 
him ever so severely, and he would not flinch 
or groan. The dead among the Indians were fre- 
quently buried in a sitting posture, facing the east. 
Whatever objects were prized in health were buried 
with them, as they believed the person would want 
them to use in the next world. The mourners often 
painted their faces black, and expressed very deep 
grief for their relatives. After the funeral, the name 
of the departed was never mentioned in the family; 
and they would frequently forsake the wigwam 
where they had lived before the death occurred. 
The Indians believed in the existence of a Great 
Spirit of good, and one of evil. The latter was the 
one who received the most worship. Dances were 
given in honor of him, and sacrifices offered to ap- 
pease his wrath whenever they were afflicted. They 
also believed in many inferior deities, such as the 
wind, fire, and thunder. They did not worship 
idols ; some of the tribes had curious images, but 
they were not used as objects of worship. The In- 
dians were very superstitious, and were firm be- 
lievers in ghosts and witches. Their priests or 
powwows exerted great influence over them. They 



INDIAN CUSTOMS. 41 

were always well paid before penorming their en- 
chantments, but were frequently consulted, espe- 
cially in cases of sickness. Sometimes they would 
kindle a large fire and dance around it, uttering 
horrid shrieks ; the Indians on such occasions would 
throw into it their choicest treasures, as a sacrifice. 
Most of these Indian rites are now abolished. After 
the English settled in this country, the red men 
scattered like leaves of the forest in an autumn 
wind ; and not many centuries shall have fled, be- 
fore the Indian will be known only in the history 
of the past. 



42 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



V. 

APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS. 

The first Bible was printed in America, at Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts, in 1664, in the Indian lan- 
guage, forty years before a newspaper was published 
in this country. The difficult task of preparing it 
was wrought by the Reverend John Eliot, a most 
able and devoted minister of the gospel. He was 
born in England in 1604, and was educated at the 
University at Cambridge. When about twenty- 
seven years of age he came to America, and was 
chosen pastor of the church in Roxbury, Mass., an 
office he held the remainder of his life. Until this 
time but little attention had been paid by the col- 
onists to the Indians, as to teaching them the truths 
of religion, or how to lead a civilized life. The 
benevolent heart of Mr. Eliot was filled with pity 
for the poor Indians, and instead of trying to teach 
them English, he set himself to work, in addition 
to his labors as a pastor, to learn their language. 
To accomplish this, took him a long time. He ate 
and drank with them, spent days and nights in their 
wigwams, and oftentimes endured great privation 
and suffering, in traveling alone and on foot 
through the forests. When Mr. Eliot was forty- 
two years of age, he was able to address them in 
public in their own language. 



APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS. 43 

His first labors were with a tribe who lived a few 
miles from Boston. In a short time a famous chief 
named Waban was converted, and he was ever after 
noted for his piety. The good missionary not only 
taught the Indians the truths of the Bible, but 
showed them how to build more comfortable dwell- 
ings, and tried to establish among them a wise form 
of government. Nothing that would make them 
happier and better was too small for his attention. 
He opened schools, and soon at Natick there was 
quite an Indian settlement. He discovered the 
great need there was of the Indians having a written 
language, so he commenced the difficult work of 
making one from their signs and oral elements. 
Long and faithfully did he labor, until, in 1661, the 
New Testament was presented them in their own 
language, for a religious society in England had 
paid for 1 the printing. Three years later the Old 
Testament was ready for use. The Indians had 
one sound not represented in our language, and 
Mr. Eliot adopted a character which resembles the 
figure 8 laid on its side to represent it. As a speci- 
men of the work he accomplished, we will give the 
Lord's Prayer in the Massachusetts language, taken 
from Eliot's Bible : 

" Noo shun kesukqut quttianatamunacn k oowes- 
uonk. Peyaum ooutch kukketaff ootamoonk, kutte- 
nantamoonk ne n nach ohkeit neane kesukqut. 
Nummeetsuongash asekesukokish assamainnean 
yeuyeu kesukok. Kah ahquoantamaiinnean num- 
matcheseongash, neane matchenenukqueagig nuta- 
quontamounnonog. Ah que sagkompagunnaiin- 



44 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

nean en gutchhuaouganit, webe pohquokwussin- 
nean wutch matchitut. Newutche kutahtaunn ke- 
tass ootamoonk, kah menuhkesuonk, kah sohsu- 
moonk mickeme. Amen." 

Mr. Eliot prepared a primer for young children, 
and some other books for use in schools ; he also 
translated hymns to be used in their meetings, and 
some larger works for the more advanced scholars. 
He was well rewarded for his labors in seeing the 
progress made by the Indian children. Some of 
them learned so rapidly, in a few years they entered 
the English schools and became proficient in Latin 
and Greek. For many years the good apostle, as he 
was styled, went twice every week and held a meet- 
ing at Natick, and his earnest and friendly manner 
led the Indians to listen to him. The first church 
formed among them was at that place, and had be- 
tween forty and fifty members. Other men, seeing 
the result of Mr. Eliot's labors, entered the work 
and established schools and churches in different 
parts of New England, and some of their own na- 
tion were employed as teachers. In 1657, as Mr. 
Eliot was attending a council of ministers in Con- 
necticut, for the first time he preached to the Po- 
dunk Indians. Quite a large number of them met 
at Hartford, and he tried in their own language to 
teach them of Christ. When he was about to 
leave them he inquired if any were ready to receive 
the Saviour. The sachems answered with scorn, 
" No, the English have taken away our land; and 
now they want to make us their servants." The 
Connecticut Indians did not listen to the truth as 



APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS. 



45 




JOHN ELIOT, APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS, 



46 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

readily as those in some other states ; perhaps it 
arose from the reason that some of the first white 
settlers there had the impression that they were 
the Lord's people and the Indians the Canaanites, 
and it was their duty to kill and drive them out as 
fast as possible. We do not forget the kindness 
and attention shown in after years to the red men 
in that state. In the year 1680, it was estimated 
that there were at least one thousand " praying In- 
dians" in and around Massachusetts, who had been 
led to lead a higher life by the blessing of God on 
Mr. Eliot's instructions. They used to hold a 
court every year at Wameset, or Tewksbury. On 
that occasion a large crowd of Indians assembled 
frofcn various places. These public councils were 
directed with great ceremony. The oldest man sat 
in front, the warriors next, and the women and 
children occupied the back seats. When the 
speaker arose, not a sqund was heard from the audi- 
ence — all gave the closest attention. Five minutes 
were allowed after the speech was finished for him 
to think if he had omitted anything he wished to 
say, or desired to make any correction. One day 
Mr. Eliot had been preaching in a large wigwam, 
and his subject was the parable of the marriage of 
the king's son, from the twenty-second chapter of 
Matthew. When he finished his sermon, Wauma- 
lancet, an Indian chief who had been very kind to 
the English, but had refused to obey the gospel, 
rose and said — " Sirs, you have been pleased for 
four years, in your abundant love, to apply your- 
selves particularly to me and my people, to exhort, 



APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS. 47 

press and persuade us to pray to God. I am very 
thankful to you for your pains. I must acknowl- 
edge I have all my days used to pass in an old 
canoe, and you exhort me to change and leave my 
old canoe, and embark in a new one, which I have 
always opposed ; but now I yield myself up to your 
advice, and enter into a new canoe, and do engage 
to pray to God hereafter." From that time he be- 
came a changed man, and led the life of a praying 
Indian. Some of his people were angry with him 
for forsaking their powwows, and left him and 
joined other tribes. In the year 1764, the Rev. Mr. 
Eliot, in company with another missionary, went 
on a tour, and visited the different missions scat- 
tered over the country. They held a meeting with 
some Christian Indians, in what is now the town of 
Woodstock, Connecticut. One Indian sat with a 
sullen look, and did not appear to take the least in- 
terest in the exercises. At last he rose and said 
that he was sent by Uncas, chief of the Mohegans, 
to tell the missionaries that they had no right to 
come into his territory, and said he, " Uncas is not 
pleased that the English should pass overMohegan 
river to call his Indians to pray to God." The 
ministers told him to tell his chief they only came 
to teach them of Christ, and to give up drinking, 
powwowing, witchcraft, and murder. At nearly 
every mission their presence was hailed with great 
joy, for many of the pastors and teachers had been 
under their instruction. 

Mr. Eliot had five sons of promise, and as he had 
given cheerfully unto the poor and ignorant, the 



48 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

Lord rewarded him by leading some persons in 
England to pay for the education of his children. 
One son died when in college, but four of them 
lived to become ministers — all respected and loved. 
His oldest son labored earnestly to assist his father, 
and preached for many years to the Indians in dif- 
ferent towns. The Reverend Mr. Eliot, the apos- 
tle, lived to a venerable age, then, deeply la- 
mented, he passed from his labors on earth to his 
rest in heaven. 



SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS. 49 



VI. 

SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS. 

William Phipps was among the first examples in 
this country of what is styled " a self-made man." 
Born only thirty years after the Pilgrims landed at 
Plymouth, of obscure parents, without early advan- 
tages, he rose to fill the highest office in the colony, 
and a large sphere of usefulness in church and state. 

His father had twenty-six children by one wife, 
twenty-one of whom were sons, and William was 
among the youngest. His home was on the banks 
of the Kennebec, where his parents owned a small 
farm, well stocked with sheep. At that time they 
were on the outskirts of civilization, and but very 
few settlers could be found farther to the east. 
There were no schools in the vicinity, and if there 
had been, no time for this hard-working boy to 
spend in study ; for William was obliged to take 
care of the sheep and assist his brothers in clearing 
the farm. He was full of energy, and longed for a 
more spirited life. When he was eighteen years of 
age he left home and was apprenticed to a ship car- 
penter, where he remained for four years. Then he 
started out for himself and went to Boston, where 
he engaged to work for a ship-builder for one year. 
Something in the very atmosphere of that city is 
opposed to ignorance and excites to study, and in 

3 



50 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

less than twelve months after his arrival he had 
learned both to read and write. This year he also 
married an intelligent girl from a respectable family, 
who ever proved a helpmeet to him. Not satisfied 
with his success at his trade, William now deter- 
mined to seek his fortune upon the sea. During 
his first voyage he heard of a wreck near the Ba- 
hama Islands, and directed his course to the spot, 
and found a sum sufficient to defray the expense of 
a trip to England. When he arrived there he heard 
of a Spanish vessel which had been wrecked with 
immense treasure about fifty years before. He de- 
termined to secure the prize. By his energy and 
great persuasive powers, he prevailed upon men of 
influence and money to fit him out for the search 
with a vessel containing nineteen guns and ninety- 
five men. Capt. Phipps sailed for many weeks, and 
frequently sent divers into the ocean, but no treas- 
ure appeared. The crew became discouraged and 
mutinous. One day when he was standing alone 
on the deck, some of them rushed about him with 
drawn swords, and demanded that he should go 
with them as a pirate to the South Seas or they 
would put him to death. He was taken by sur- 
prise, but stood perfectly still for a short time, as 
if considering the matter. Then, unarmed, Capt. 
Phipps, with terrible and unexpected blows, rushed 
upon them and knocked down several of their 
number with so fearless a manner it frightened the 
rest, and they consented to submit to his direction. 
But these men were not conquered, for a few days 
afterwards, when they stopped at a desolate island 



SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS. 5 I 

to repair the vessel, the dissatisfied ones went into 
the woods by themselves, and formed the plan of 
seizing the captain and his friends, and leaving 
them upon the island, and taking possession of the 
vessel and making their escape. Capt. Phipps had 
ordered a large tent to be made on shore, where 
the provisions were kept and some of the guns. 
All things worked well for the conspirators until 
they were almost ready to carry the plot into exe- 
cution. : They were very anxious to have the ship 
carpenter belong to their party. He was a kind- 
hearted, honest man, and they knew he would not 
join them except by force ; so they told him of their 
mutinous plan, also informed him if he would not 
agree to join them they should take his life. He 
returned to his work, and they sent a man to watch 
his actions. In a few hours he feigned to be in 
great distress, and excused himself to go to the 
vessel for something to take. He went below, and 
when he was preparing the draught, he informed 
Capt. Phipps of the conspiracy. The captain told 
him to work with them and he would make it all 
right. Then he called his friends and inquired 
if they were willing to go with him and share 
his fortune. They readilv consented. Capt. Phipps 
brought all the guns on board the shin, and took 
up the plank on which they passed to the rock on 
the island. Great was the surprise of the muti- 
neers, when they came in sight of the vessel, to see 
what had been done. As soon as they came within 
hearing, the captain told them their mutiny was ex- 
posed, and he had decided they should share the 



52 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

same fate they had planned for himself and friends. 
Knowing they could not live long in so desolate a 
place, and seeing no other way to escape, they con- 
fessed their guilt and plead earnestly for pardon, 
and to be allowed one more trial. The stern but 
kind heart of the captain relented ; still, not think- 
ing they would be very safe companions, he ordered 
their arms to be tied behind them, then allowed them 
to come on board. He kept them in that condition 
until he arrived at Jamaica, where he left them and 
made up his crew with others. The new sailors 
were not fitted for this enterprise, so he returned to 
England. 

Capt Phipps was not the man to be discouraged 
at one failure. He persuaded the Duke of Albe- 
marle to furnish him with another vessel, in order to 
continue his search for the wreck. There was a 
large reef of rocks near the Bahama Islands called 
" The Boilers," and it was supposed the Spanish 
vessel was wrecked near this reef. Just as he was 
on the point of giving up the search, one of his 
small boats was returning to the vessel in a clear 
channel which crossed the reef, when a sailor, who 
was looking into the water, thought he saw some- 
thing very curious growing on a rock. He sent 
down an Indian diver to see what it was. He re- 
turned, sa/ing there were pieces of iron and big 
guns scattered all about. They sent him down the 
second time, and he came up with a large piece of 
silver in his hand. The crew were almost wild with 
joy. Capt. Phipps and his men soon reached the 
spot, and all were busily engaged in securing this 



SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS. 53 

treasure from the deep. Upon good authority it is 
stated that they carried away thirty-two tons of sil- 
ver bullion, besides gold, pearls, and some rare jew- 
els. When the ship reached England, the worth of 
the cargo was estimated at nearly three hundred 
thousand pounds sterling, or almost one million and 
a half dollars. Capt. Phipps showed himself hon- 
est as well as brave. He paid those who employed 
him, and those who worked with him, so liberal a 
share of this great wealth, that all he reserved for 
himself was about seventy thousand dollars, or less 
than sixteen thousand pounds. The Duke of Al- 
bemarle was so pleased with the success of the 
captain, he made him a very valuable present, be- 
sides gave such an account of his life and brave 
deeds to King James, that he made him a knight. 
Honors were now heaped upon Capt. Phipps. The 
highest officers in the navy urged him to remain in 
England ; but he loved the land of his birth, and 
decided to return to it. 

When the king allowed him to ask any favor, he 
requested that the privileges taken from the colo- 
nists might be restored to them. King James was 
not friendly to the people of'New England, and re- 
plied, " Ask anything but that." Capt. Phipps ac- 
cepted the office of high sheriff, for he hoped to be 
of assistance to the colony in this way. After an 
absence of five years he returned to America. On 
his arrival he found political affairs in a very bad 
condition. There were continual troubles between 
officers of the king's appointment and tho*se of the 
colonists. Capt. Phipps labored to promote the 



54 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

best interests of the people by placing consci- 
entious men in office. Those friendly to royalty 
worked against him. The opposition at one time 
was so great he came very near being assassinated 
in front of his own house. Sad at heart, Capt. 
Phipps returned to England. William, Prince of 
Orange, had ascended the throne, and he was more 
friendly to the colonists. King James offered to 
make Capt. Phipps governor of New England ; he 
indignantly refused to accept the office, and, like 
a true patriot, sought to secure from the reigning 
monarch such measures as should benefit all the 
people. He returned to Massachusetts, and his ad- 
vice was very valuable to the citizens at that time, 
for he was universally respected for his good judg- 
ment and patriotism. When Capt. Phipps was forty 
years of age he was baptized and united with a 
church in Boston. His pastor, Cotton Mather, tells 
us on that occasion he said, " I have had awful im- 
pressions from the words of the Lord Jesus, 'Who- 
soever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of 
him shall the Son of Man be ashamed.' When God 
had blessed me with something of the world, I had 
no trouble so great as this, lest it should not be in 
mercy ; and I trembled at nothing more than being 
put off with a portion here. That I may be sure 
of better things, I now offer myself unto the com- 
munion of the faithful." In 1690, a war broke out 
between the French and English, commonly called 
King William's war. When King James Second 
abdicated "the crown he fled to France, and Louis 
Fourteenth tried to reinstate him king of England ; 



SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS. 55 

this caused war between the two countries. The 
French in Canada sympathized with those at home, 
and commenced hostilities against the colonists. 
They made, in league with the Indians, three differ- 
ent attacks upon them, and killed and captured 
about three hundred persons. The inhabitants of 
the different states were now aroused to action, 
and fitted out Capt. Phipps with seventy vessels 
and eight hundred men, to take Port Royal, in Nova 
Scotia. He was successful. Another expedition 
was sent against Canada. The fleet under Capt. 
Phipps was to sail up the St. Lawrence and 
attack Quebec. At the same time the troops from 
New York and Connecticut were to go by land and 
make an attack upon Montreal. They went as far 
as Lake Champlain, and not being able to obtain 
boats to cross, they were obliged to return. The 
fleet did not arrive at Quebec until October, when 
a violent storm injured and scattered the vessels, 
and other circumstances made this expedition a 
failure. The next year, to the great joy of the peo- 
ple, Capt. Phipps accepted the office of governor of 
Massachusetts. It was during his rule the '• Salem 
Witchcraft" occurred. Governor Phipps was influ- 
enced by leading men to organize the court which 
tried the accused. The control of the affair was 
mostly left to the lieutenant-governor ; still the 
governor had much anxiety in regard to it ; for at 
one time suspicion rested on the fair name of his 
wife. He lived to regret that he had taken any part 
in the affair. Even the wisest sometimes make 
mistakes, and in general he administered the gov- 



$6 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

ernment wisely. Like other men in office, Gov- 
ernor Phipps had some enemies ; they reported 
against him to the king, and he was summoned to 
appear in England. The majority of the people 
showed him every attention possible, and strove 
with their friendship and kindness, to make him 
forget his troubles. They escorted him to the ves- 
sel and sent a special message to the king, asking 
for his speedy return, and that he might long remain 
their ruler. Upon examination the reports were 
proved to be false, and it was clearly shown that they 
had been circulated from jealousy by men who had 
expected to remove Governor Phipps and fill the 
office from their own party. It was in 1695, when 
his friends in America were eagerly waiting for his 
return, that he was taken sick in England with a 
violent disease which terminated his eventful life 
of forty-five years in a few days. Sir William Phipps 
was a man of plain and sometimes blunt manner, 
but his honest and generous nature, his persever- 
ance in whatever he undertook, his patriotism and 
piety, won for him a large circle of friends both at 
home and abroad, who sincerely mourned his loss. 



SALEM WITCHCRAFT. $? 



VII. 

SALEM WITCHCRAFT. 

A very strange affair once occurred in the town 
of Danvers, then a part of Salem, Mass. It was in 
February of the year 1692, that two children in 
the family of the Rev. Mr. Parris, one his daughter, 
nine years old, and the other his niece, twelve years 
of age, were • affected at times in a very singular 
manner. They would creep under chairs and tables, 
and make the most .frightful faces; sometimes 
thrusting their tongues out of their mouths upon 
their chins, then drawing them quickly down their 
throats ; again stretching their jaws apart until 
they were almost out of joint, then suddenly shut- 
ting them like a spring lock. They pretended that 
persons entered their room through the key holes 
or cracks in the windows, who pinched their flesh 
and pricked them with needles, and they would 
scream and cry as if cruelly hurt. No one could see 
the tormentors but those who were suffering. The 
physician was called, and being at a loss to account 
for these strange actions in his patients, said they 
must be bewitched. 

The children hearing this, and being constantly 
urged to tell who it was that troubled them, accused 
an old Indian woman, who lived in the family. Her 
name was Tituba, and she was brought to this coun- 



58 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

try from the West Indies, where she had been a 
slave. She was very ignorant and a firm believer 
in witches, and had tried some experiments in the 
presence of the children, which she said she learned 
among her own people, for finding out the witch. 
Tituba was speedily arrested. Upon search she 
was found to have some scars upon her back, which 
were called "the devil's mark," but might. as well 
have been considered the proof of her slavery. At 
first she denied everything, but, at last, in a state of 
great alarm, she confessed herself guilty, and said 
two women in the town were in league with her. 

Seeing the attention paid to the Parris family, 
very soon other children in the village claimed to 
be affected in the same way. They accused two 
different persons of bewitching them. One was a 
melancholy old woman who was partially insane 
and wandered about the streets, often begging her 
bread. The other was an invalid named Sarah 
Good, who had been confined to her bed for several 
years. At this time of unnatural excitement, even 
sickness did not secure either sympathy or pity, 
and she was taken off to prison ; and her little girl, 
between four and five years of age, was made to go 
with her, for some of the children charged her with 
biting them, and would show the print of small 
teeth upon their arms » 

At last the time for trial came. A special court 
was held at Salem in June. The bewitched chil- 
dren were present. The question was put to the 
accused, " Why do you afflict these children ?" If 
they denied it they were told to look upon them ; 



SALEM WITCHCRAFT. 59 

then the children would appear greatly troubled. 
If one of the old women happened to lean against 
anything, they would say that she was crushing 
them ; if another clasped her hands, they would cry 
out that she was pinching them ; if one of them 
took a single step, the children would scream from 
pain in the feet, and utter terrible shrieks, which 
excited all present. Mr. Parris, in the presence 01 
one or two magistrates, asked most of the questions, 
and the examinations were conducted in such a 
manner that soon the prisoners were brought in as 
guilty, and condemned. During the months of June 
and July, six women were hanged. The delusion 
still spread rapidly, even into the neighboring 
towns. By the last of September twenty persons 
had been executed, one third of whom were 
members of the church — all, excepting the first, de- 
claring their innocence. If the accused confessed 
guilt, they had a chance of life ; and more than fifty 
saved themselves from hanging by admitting they 
were witches, who afterward declared their free- 
dom from any such crime. About one hundred 
and fifty were in prison and accused. One man, 
named Giles Corey, seeing the fate of all those who 
had put themselves upon trial, refused to plead, 
and when questions were asked would not answer 
a word. So, according to an old English law, as a 
punishment for standing mute, he was pressed to 
death — -the only instance of the kind which has 
ever occurred in New England. At first most of 
the accused were from among the ignorant and de- 
graded, but soon victims were selected from the 



60 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

higher classes, and some in the families of the 
magistrates were suspected. This led the judges to 
examine the subject more carefully. In August 
the Rev. Mr. Burroughs was executed. On the 
scaffold he made a speech so eloquently pleading 
his innocence it touched the hearts of all who list- 
ened to it. It was not until the month of October 
an event occurred which roused the whole people. 
The wife of the minister at Beverly, the Rev. Mrs. 
Hale, was accused. She was one of the best of 
women, noted for her virtues and very much be- 
loved. 

This opened the eyes of all to the untruthfulness 
of the bewitched. Public opinion turned against 
them. No more persons were condemned, and those 
in prison were released. The Rev. Mr. Parris 
was obliged to leave his church ; and those who 
had been concerned in punishing offenders were 
judged so severely they confessed guilt and asked for 
pardon. We wonder that such an event could have 
occurred among persons of education and piety ; but 
there are several reasons which in some measure 
account for the spread of such a delusion. The In- 
dians, with whom all the children at that time were 
well acquainted, were very superstitious, and often 
filled their minds with strange stories. Not many 
years before the occurrence at Salem, a man named 
Glanvel published his "Witch Stories" in England ; 
and soon after an account of the trial of the witches 
in Suffolk was printed. Many copies of these 
books were circulated and read in New England, 
and their contents discussed at nearly every fire- 



ROGER WILLIAMS. 6 1 

side. The actions of the bewitched in this country 
were almost precisely like those recorded in the 
stories. This conformity of behavior has led some 
to suppose one was in imitation of the other. It is 
well to remember, at that time in England, some 
of the most able lawyers tried and condemned as 
criminals, those who were accused of prac- 
ticing witchcraft. Let us rejoice that we live in a 
more enlightened age. 



VIII. 
ROGER WILLIAMS. 



Roger Williams was born in Wales in 1599. 
He received a liberal education and was admitted 
to orders in the Church of England, where he ac- 
quired the reputation of being " a godly man and a 
zealous preacher." 

Having joined the Puritans, he was subjected to 
persecution, and when he was thirty-two years old, 
in company with his wife, he sailed for America. 
He preached for two years in Plymouth. In 1634 
he accepted a call to be the pastor of the church in 
Salem. He was a man of superior abilities and 
earnest piety, and he soon exerted a great influence 



62 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

over the minds of his people. His views of truth 
gave offense to the civil powers, for he believed and 
preached that every man had a right to worship 
God according to the dictates of his own con- 
science. The devoted pastor was in advance of his 
age. In the year 1636, he was summoned to ap- 
pear before the General Court and ministers of the 
colony. Mr. Hooker was appointed to dispute with 
him. 

Mr. Williams claimed that " the only business of 
human legislators is with the actions of men as they 
affect his fellow men ; but as for the thoughts and 
feelings of his mind, and the acts of his life as re- 
spects religious worship, the only law-giver is God, 
and the only tribunal a man s conscience." It ap- 
pears very strange to us that the Puritans, who had 
suffered so much to obtain a place where they could 
worship God as they desired, should not have 
granted the same privilege to others ; but they 
were in continual fear lest, by new sects being 
formed among them, they should lose their privi- 
leges They had been educated in the school of 
persecution, and could not understand the blessing 
of granting religious liberty to all Mr. Williams 
was sentenced by the court to depart out of their 
jurisdiction within six weeks, and all the ministers, 
excepting one, approved of the sentence. 

When this decision was made known, crowds 
thronged to hear him. The affection of his people 
increased, and some of them were determined to 
sustain him. The magistrates, fearing the result, 
sent a vessel to take him, but the pastor had dis- 



ROGER WILLIAMS. 63 

appeared. He started southward and traveled for 
fourteen weeks, without knowing, as he says, ''what 
bread or bed did mean," and as the ground was 
covered with snow, he had to depend on the charity 
of the Indians for food. He studied their language 
and learned to talk with them ; he labored for their 
civilization and to lead them to accept the blessings 
of the gospel. At last Mr. Williams stopped at a 
place near Manton's Neck, and five of his friends 
joined him. Very soon he received a letter from 
Governor Winslow of Plymouth, advising him to 
remove to the other side of the water, where the 
country would be free before him, and they could 
dwell as loving neighbors together. This advice 
appears to have been given in friendship, though 
the governor has been severely censured for writing 
it. Mr. Williams, with his friends, entered a canoe 
and went down stream. They rowed around India 
and Fox Points, and then went up the river 
and landed near a spring of water, which is still 
pointed out to the traveler. Here he purchased a 
tract of land of the Narragansetts and began to 
build a town, which, in remembrance of the good- 
ness of God to him in times of trial and distress, 
he called Providence. Mrs. Williams with their two 
children soon arrived, with others from Salem who 
loved their pastor. The land he had obtained Mr. 
Williams delivered into the hands of twelve men, 
reserving only an equal share for himself. He mort- 
gaged his place in Salem for money to make the 
purchase, so that he could establish a place of ref- 
uge for all who were oppressed, and found a colony 



64 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

t where all sorts of consciences" could enjoy reli- 
gious freedom. Mr. Williams having embraced 
the sentiments of the Baptists, was again baptized 
in March, 1639. He founded the first Baptist 
church in America. For several years this colony 
suffered from poverty. The Indians had but little 
money, and those of his congregation who came were 
poor, and could not receive aid from friends. Mr. 
Williams now had to resort to hard work. He says, 
;'day and night, at home and abroad, on the land 
and water, at the hoe, at the oar, for bread." Still 
he bore all his sufferings cheerfully, and would not 
give up his principles. In a letter to a friend he 
states, "■ It pleased the Father of spirits to touch 
many hearts dear to me with relentings, amongst 
which the great and pious soul, Mr. Winslow, 
melted and kindly visited me at Providence, and 
put a piece of gold into the hands of my wife for 
our supply." It was not many years before they 
were blessed with prosperity. New settlements 
were continually being made, and the healthy cli- 
mate, with the liberty of opinion granted to all, 
caused them to increase very rapidly. In the year 
1636 the inhabitants of Massachusetts heard that 
the Pequots and the Narragansetts were about to 
form a league against the whites. Knowing the 
great influence Mr. Williams had over the chiefs of 
the latter tribe, they sent letters to him, urging him 
to use his utmost efforts to prevent it. The good 
man started off directly in his old canoe, and at 
the risk of his life reached the wigwam of the chief 
of the Narragansetts when the Pequot commis- 



ROGER WILLIAMS. 65 

sioners were present, whose hands he said " seemed 
to reek with the blood of his murdered countrymen, 
and whose knives he often expected at his own 
throat." For three days and nights he labored, and 
after many trials and charges, he succeeded in per- 
suading the Narragansetts to remain friendly to the 
English. The importance of this act to the colonists 
of New England can never be fully estimated. 

In the year 1640 the inhabitants of Providence 
agreed upon a wise form of government, which it is 
supposed was written by the pastor. Roger Wil- 
liams visited England in the year 1644, as agent 
for the settlers in Rhode Island, and obtained of 
the Earl of Warwick a free charter of incoporation 
for Providence and the Rhode-Island plantations, 
as the other settlements were called. In the year 
1663, Charles II. granted them a royal charter. 
This constituted an assembly consisting of the gov- 
ernor, lieutenant-governor and ten assistants, with 
representatives from the different towns, all to be 
chosen by the vote of freemen. Roger Williams 
had the highest confidence of his fellow citizens, 
and several times was elected to fill the office of 
governor. He died in 1683, at Providence, and 
was buried near the spot where he first landed. 
He has sometimes been blamed for so frequently 
changing his religious views, still he will ever be 
held in respect for the religious toleration he estab- 
lished in New England, and personally he will be 
regarded as one of the truest, bravest, and best of 
men. 



66 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



IX. 

KIXG PHILIP'S WAR. 

King Philip was a fierce Indian warrior. He was 
the second son of Massasoit, and when his oldest 
brother Alexander died in 1662, he became chief. 
At first he pretended to be friendly to the whites, 
but all the time at heart was an enemy to them. 
The Indians who had once looked upon the English 
as their friends, now seeing their own number 
rapidly diminishing and that of the colonists in- 
creasing, became very jealous of them. Philip en- 
couraged this feeling by going secretly to the dif- 
ferent tribes, and by his eloquent speeches inciting 
them to action. He prophesied that the white men 
would in time take all the land, and their children 
would be left destitute of hunting grounds — their 
chiefs would be beggars and their warriors would 
be scattered like autumn leaves. An event soon 
occurred which showed his true feelings. There was 
a very talented young Indian called John Sausaman, 
who had been educated by Mr. Eliot, and could 
speak the English language as well as his own. He 
was engaged to teach the children at Natick, an In- 
dian village. For some reason he left and joined 
Philip, and became very intimate with him, and the 
chief employed him as a secretary and told him 
all about his affairs. By the influence of the mis- 



KING PHILIP S WAR. 



6 7 




KING PHILIP OF POKONOKET, WITH HIS ROBE OF RED CLOTH 
AND OTHER INSIGNIA OF ROYALTY, COPIED FROM AN ORIG- 
INAL PAINTING. 



68 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

sionary, Sausaman was induced to return to the 
Christian Indians. He appeared very penitent, was 
baptized, and devoted the rest of his life to preach- 
ing to those of his own nation who would listen to 
him. He was very eloquent, and many of the In- 
dians placed great confidence in him — they told 
him of a plot formed to exterminate the whites. 
Sausaman informed the governor, who went directly 
to work to prevent it. Philip suspected who had 
revealed the secret, and was determined he should 
die. One cold winter's day Sausaman was alone 
on a large pond, when three Indians suddenly 
rushed upon and killed him, and put his body un- 
der the ice, but left his hat and gun outside, so as 
to make it appear as if he had slipped into the hole 
and was drowned. His body was found, and some 
bruises upon the head led his friends to believe the 
Indians had murdered him. They remained quiet 
about it, but all the time were on the watch to find 
out all they could. One day an old Indian told 
them he was on a hill near the pond and saw Sau- 
saman killed, but he durst not give the alarm or tell 
of it for fear of losing his own life. Through the 
labors of this man the three Indians were caught — 
one of them confessed his guilt, and they were all 
put to death. They were near friends of Philip, and 
he was very angry and swore revenge. The In- 
dians now began to steal cattle from the English 
and insult them in various ways. One fast-day, as 
some people in the Plymouth colony were going 
home from their place of worship, the Indians made 
an attack upon them and killed eight or nine per- 



king Philip's war. 69 

sons. The English soon pursued them and killed 
five or six Indians, and Philip fearing another attack, 
left the place where he lived at Mount Hope, in 
Bristol, Rhode Island, and fled with his warriors to a 
swamp in Pocasset, afterwards called Tiverton. On 
their way the savages burnt houses, scalped some of 
the inmates, and placed the heads of others on poles 
along the side of the road. The English followed 
Philip into the swamp and lost many men in the pur- 
suit ; they tried to surround it and starve him out, 
but one night he stole off with his men. The next 
two years were sad ones for New England. The 
Indians had learned to use firearms, and they never 
fought in the open field if they could avoid it, but 
would skulk behind rocks and trees, and fire when 
least expected. Sometimes whole families were mas- 
sacred. Nearly every village was surrounded by a 
forest, and the inhabitants were never safe. The 
men carried their guns to church with them, and 
when working in the field they had them strapped 
on their backs. Philip fled from the swamp to 
Massachusetts, and when the English sent some 
men to make a treaty with the Indians, they were 
surrounded and several of them killed ; the rest re- 
turned in a by-path to the village of Quaboag, now 
Brookfield. Thinking they might be pursued, they 
told the inhabitants, numbering about seventy per- 
sons, all to go to the largest house in the village, 
and they would try and defend them. The Indians 
with hideous shouts soon entered the place. They 
burned all the vacant houses, then began to fire 
at this one. The inmates defended themselves as 



70 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

best they could. The savages continued the assault 
for two days, and only one person was killed by the 
firing. Then they determined to burn the building. 
They threw brands of fire against it — finally filled 
a cart with tow, set it on fire and pushed it against 
the house. The villagers now gave up all hope of 
life, for the Indians had surrounded the house, to 
kill any who might try to escape. Just at that mo- 
ment the God in whom they trusted delivered 
them. In their anxiety they had not noticed the 
black cloud in the heavens, from which the rain 
soon fell in torrents -and extinguished the flames. 
The next day some soldiers arrived under Major 
Willard and Captain Parker, and the Indians, after 
killing and wounding all the cattle in the place, fled. 
During the month of September, 1675, Haclley, 
Deerfield, and Northfield, on the Connecticut river, 
were attacked ; some of the inhabitants were killed 
and many buildings burned. About the middle of 
the month, Captain Lathrop, with several teams and 
eighty young men, who were the pride of Essex 
county, was sent to Deerfield to transport grain to 
Hadley. On their return the party stopped to 
gather some grapes near a brook, and were sud- 
denly attacked by eight hundred Indians. It was 
useless for them to resist ; they were all killed and 
buried in one grave. Captain Mosley's men came 
up when they were robbing the dead, but it was too 
late for the rescue of one precious life. They rushed 
upon the Indians very suddenly and they fled in all 
directions, but the soldiers followed and frequently 
charged on them for seven miles, and many of the 



KING PHILIPS WAR. 7 1 

savages were killed. During this time the Narra- 
gansetts had made a league with the whites* but it 
was accidentally discovered that they were privately 
aiding Philip — sending men by night to his forts 
and protecting his women and children. It was 
thought necessary for the safety of the colonies 
that they should unite their forces and send a 
powerful army against them. Early in the winter 
of 1675, Philip repaired to the country of the Nar- 
ragansetts with three thousand warriors. He built 
a fort on an island in a swamp, large enough to con- 
tain six hundred wigwams, and it was surrounded 
by a thick brush fence sixteen rods in width. It had 
but one entrance, and that was well defended, In 
order to reach the island, it was necessary to cross 
a channel of stagnant water on the trunk of a tree. 
All the savage tribes were roused to make one 
mighty effort against the white invaders. The 
whites decided it was the time for them to make an 
attack. On the nineteenth of December Governor 
Winslow, from Plymouth, with about one thousand 
men, started for the fort. They were obliged to 
march fifteen miles through the deep snow, and they 
arrived at the swamp at one o'clock in the after- 
noon. In trying to walk on the tree thrown across 
the ditch, some of the men were killed by the 
guards. 

The Indians fled as soon as fired upon, and the 
whole army followed them to their fortress. There 
was desperate fighting. At first the whites were 
repulsed, but some of the soldiers had discovered a 
place in the rear unguarded and rushed into it, so 



72 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 




KING PHILIPS WAR. J^ 

the Indians were attacked from both sides and fell 
with terrible slaughter. The wigwams were set on 
fire, and the shrieks from the women and children 
were terrible. The loss of the English was great : 
six captains and eighty men were killed, and one 
hundred and fifty wounded. The Indians suffered 
still more : in addition to the thousand warriors 
slain, many of those who fled perished from the 
cold and for want of food. Philip was not taken ; he 
returned to Mount Hope and collected his scattered 
forces. A few months after the swamp fight, as this 
battle is called, Canonchet, the chief of the Narra- 
gansetts, was taken prisoner and delivered to the 
Mohegans, and they being friendly to the whites 
ordered him to be shot. During the winter the In- 
dians continued to murder the people and burn 
many houses in different places. In the spring 
another party was sent out under Captain Church. 
The hatred of Philip increased, and he tried, but in 
vain, to induce the Mohawks to join him. He killed 
some of their men and laid it to the English, so as 
to enrage them. He was detected in his iniquity 
and pursued. About the first of August, 1676, 
an attack was made upon him near Mount Hope, 
and one hundred and thirty of his men killed and 
his wife and son taken prisoners. Philip wept bit- 
terly for the loss of his family. One of his men pro- 
posed that he should accept terms of peace, and he 
shot him dead on the spot. The brother of this 
man was angry, and to revenge his death he joined 
the whites, and in a skirmish shortly after shot 
Philip through the heart. Captain Church ordered 
4 



74 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

him to be beheaded and quartered. The Indian 
who executed this order pronounced the epitaph of 
this great warrior : " You have been one very great 
man. You have made many a man afraid of you. 
But so big as you be, I will now chop you to pieces." 
The death of King Philip ended the war. Six hun- 
dred men, the brave and noble of New England, had 
fallen, twelve towns had been destroyed, and it was 
estimated that every eleventh family was houseless, 
and every eleventh soldier had gone to his grave. 
No wonder the people rejoiced to hear that such an 
enemy as King Philip was dead. We shudder at 
his cruel deeds, still we cannot but respect the war- 
rior who fought so fiercely to preserve his own peo- 
ple. After his death most of the scattered tribes 
made treaties of peace with the English. 



WILLIAM PENN. 75 



X. 

WILLIAM PENN. 

When Charles II. of England granted William 
Penn his large claim of land in this country, he 
named it Pennsylvania. The modest Quaker was 
so fearful it would look like vanity in himself to 
have it called by his name, he asked the king to 
change it, but he refused, telling him it was in 
honor for services rendered by his father, Vice- 
Admiral Penn. As socn as the good man came 
into possession of the land, he published the best 
account he could, offering it for sale at a low rate, 
and granting those who settled upon it great relig- 
ious liberty. He knew by sad experience what it 
was to suffer for his belief. William Penn was 
born in London in 1644. He was an only son, 
and his father was a man of wealth and influence. 
At the early age of fifteen he entered Christ-Church 
College, Oxford. He was of a serious tempera- 
ment, and was persuaded by a classmate to go and 
hear Thomas Loe, then an eminent preacher among 
the Quakers or Friends. He was deeply affected 
by the truths he heard, and that day he decided to 
cast in his lot with that persecuted sect. Some of 
the class, among whom was Penn, used to withdraw 
from the established worship and hold meetings of 
their own ; this gave offense to the professors, and 



y6 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

they were fined ; the trouble continued to increase, 
until they were finally expelled from the university. 
Penn's father was deeply grieved, and tried in every 
possible way to lead his son to change his opinions, 
but finding he could not prevail upon him to adopt 
any other belief, he punished him severely and 
turned him out of doors. He soon repented of this 
rash act, and prevailed upon him to return home, 
and furnished him money to visit Paris with some 
persons in high life, hoping the gayeties of that 
city would draw his attention from religious sub- 
jects. Instead of that, Penn spent his time in 
gaining information, and returned so well skilled in 
the French language and other accomplishments, 
and so much improved in his appearance, that he 
was welcomed with great pleasure at his home. He 
now commenced the study of law, at Lincoln's Inn, 
in London. He made such rapid progress that 
when he was twenty-two years of age his father 
committed to his sole management a large estate in 
Ireland. When in Cork, he went again to hear the 
famous preacher, Thomas Loe. He began his ser- 
mon with the impressive words, " There is a faith 
that overcomes the world, and there is a faith that 
is overcome by the world." This discourse led 
Penn to devote himself to a religious life. He 
spent some time in serious contemplation, then 
commenced preaching. His father was very angry 
when he heard of this change in his pursuits, and 
threatened to disown him if he continued to follow 
the life of a preacher. From this time the life of 
Penn was almost entirely one scene of trial. Still 



WILLIAM PENN. J? 

he preferred a life of persecution, with the approval 
of his conscience, to one of pleasure without it. 
He was imprisoned several times and frequently 
fined, but he persevered in what he believed to be 
his duty. His father always gave him credit for 
honesty, and some years after trusted him with im- 
portant business ; but it was a great disappointment 
to the ambitious man not to have his only son fill a 
high position and become an influential man at 
court — little thinking the day would come when his 
persecuted child should preserve his name from ob- 
scurity long after those of the most popular court- 
iers had been buried in oblivion. So God rewards 
those who choose first His service. 

When Admiral Penn died the government was 
deeply in debt to him, and as a payment his son 
William solicited a grant of land in America. His 
generous proposals for forming a settlement led 
many of the Quakers to join in the enterprise. 
Persecution is a bad thing of itself, but it was the 
means of sending some noble souls to this country. 
A company was soon formed, and in 1681, three 
ships sailed for the new province, with orders from 
Penn that the Indians should be treated kindly 
and their land should not be occupied without first 
gaining their consent. The next year William 
Penn decided to come to Pennsylvania. When he 
went to take leave of Charles II. and told him of 
his intention, the king expressed great surprise 
and said to him, "What! venture yourself among 
those savages ; what security have you that you 
will not be in their war kettle in two hours after 



yS HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

setting foot on their shores ? " Penn told him he 
should buy the land of the Indians and deal hon- 
estly with them, and he expected they would treat 
him in the same manner. The king thought in 
time he might find himself mistaken in his high 
opinion of savage honor. In 1682, Penn sailed, 
with one hundred Quakers, in the ship Welcome, 
for this country. During the voyage the small pox 
broke out, and about one third of the passengers 
died. From his own purse he relieved the wants 
of the poor and personally attended to the sick and 
suffering. They first landed at New Castle, then 
sailed up the Delaware river, where he formed a 
settlement. His friendly manner and just dealings 
soon secured for him the respect and confidence of 
the Indians. They called him Onas, and treated 
him as if he were a superior being. He appointed 
a time for those who would sell their lands to meet 
him under a large tree. The day arrived and the 
Indian chiefs gathered from all directions. They 
listened attentively as Penn told them he wished to 
buy their lands and live in peace with them, and he 
solemnly appealed to the Almighty to witness that 
his desire was to do them good. The chiefs then 
promised " to live in love with him and his chil- 
dren as long as the sun and moon should endure." 
The treaty was then executed by Penn signing his 
name and the Indians putting down on the paper 
the emblems of their several tribes. 

The tree under which this meeting was held was 
a large elm, in those days considered one of the 
big trees — as they had not heard from California. 



WILLIAM PENN. 79 

The tree was blown down in 1810. It was not 
lofty, but its branches covered a large space. The 
longest limb measured one hundred and fifty feet 
in length, the trunk twenty-four feet in circumfer- 
ence, and if the circles in the wood were truthfully 
recorded it was two hundred and eighty- three years 
old. A marble monument now marks the spot 
where it stood. Not long after the treaty was made, 
Penn selected a site and laid out a city, which he 
named Philadelphia, " the city of brotherly love." 
He made some very wise laws, which were of great 
benefit to the colony. One was that the children 
should be taught some useful trade ; he said all 
must work, the poor in order to live, and the rich so 
that they should not become poor. He granted great 
freedom to every person of good moral character, 
and he was the first legislator who taught that 
the object of punishment was to reform the of- 
fender as well as to prevent crime. His wise rules 
were one secret of the great success of this colony. 
The number of emigrants increased rapidly, and 
in less than a year one hundred houses were built. 
So many persons arrived one fall, there was not 
house room sufficient for them, and they had to dig 
out caves in the banks of the river and live in them 
until buildings could be erected. When they were 
in want of provisions the Indians very frequently 
brought them fish and venison. In the month 
of August, 1684, William Penn returned to En- 
m gland. After he went on board the ship he sent 
a letter to the colonists, in which he expressed his 
interest and affection for them, and closed with 



80 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

these solemn words : "And thou, Philadelphia, virgin 
of the province ! my soul prays for thee : that faith- 
ful to the God of thy mercies, in the life of right- 
eousness, thou mayest be preserved to the end." 
After Penn arrived in England he received great 
attention from all classes. He used his influence 
with King James to secure his protection for his 
persecuted brethren the Quakers, and tried to 
obtain laws in favor of religious liberty. When the 
king became an exile in France,' Penn was sus- 
pected of being in league with him, and for his 
political opinions was 'arrested and shut up in 
prison. At last he was allowed to make his de- 
fense before King William and his council. He 
was acquitted of all guilt and his rights as governor 
of his province restored to him — for the office had 
been unjustly taken from him and given to Gov- 
ernor Fletcher of New York. Fifteen years from 
the time Penn returned to England he again 
visited Pennsylvania. He granted a new charter, 
better suited to the wants of the increasing popu- 
lation than the old one. It was accepted by the 
assembly, but did not suit all the people. Those liv- 
ing in what is now the state of Delaware rejected it ; 
and in 1 703, they were allowed to form a separate 
assembly. Still the same governor was appointed 
over both provinces. William Penn left Pennsyl- 
vania in 1 70 1, and died in England in 1718, aged 
seventy -four years. His death was mourned by all 
as that of a good and just man. His memory was 
held in such reverence by the Indians that in all* 
the wars in after years they would never kill a Qua- 



THE DUNSTAN FAMILY. 8 1 

ker, knowing him to be such. The prosperity of 
Pennsylvania, the foundation of which must be 
traced to his wisdom and benevolence, is a lasting 
monument to his memory. 



x:. 

THE DUNSTAN FAMILY. 

The winter of 1697, was very severe, provisions 
were scarce, all kinds of clothing were expensive, 
and it was a hard time for large families, saying 
nothing about the constant dread of the Indians. 
It was during this year, in the middle of March, 
that a party of savages rnade an attack upon the 
town of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Many homes 
and hearts were made desolate that day, but we 
can only give an account of the sufferings of one 
household. A Mr. Dunstan, who lived just outside 
the village, was at work in the field near the house 
when the terrible war whoop sounded in his ears. 
He ran to his home, hoping if possible to save his 
family. He called seven of his children and told 
them to hasten to a fort there was in the town, 
while he went to assist his wife, who was confined 
to the bed with an infant a week old. Just at that 
instant the Indians came in sight. Mrs. Dunstan, 



82 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

with her unselfish motherly heart, begged of her 
husband to save their children. Leaving her with 
the nurse, he jumped upon his horse, thinking he 
would take the child he loved best and make his 
escape. He soon overtook his little flock of all 
ages, from two to seventeen, hurrying along as fast 
as possible towards the garrison. Which one should 
he save ? He could not decide. All were alike 
dear to the father's heart — not one could he leave to 
be murdered by the savages. He determined to save 
them all or die in the attempt. He told the chil- 
dren to run forward, and then placed himself be- 
tween them and the Indians. The savages fired at 
him, but he had his gun and returned their shots 
with good effect. In this way they traveled for a 
mile and a half, where they reached a place of safety. 
Mr. Dunstan returned to protect his wife, but all 
that remained of his house was a mass of smoking 
ruins. . After he had left some of the Indians en- 
tered and ordered Mrs. Dunstan to rise from the bed 
and prepare to go with them. Without waiting for 
her to finish dressing they obliged her, with the 
nurse, who was trying to save the infant, to quit the 
house, and after robbing it of such articles as they 
could carry they set it on fire. 

With ten other captives they started on their 
wearisome march. They were driven forward at 
the rate of about twelve miles a day by a score of 
cruel Indians. They had traveled but a short dis- 
tance when the savages, seeing so much attention 
paid to the babe and thinking it a hindrance, 
snatched it from the arms ot the nurse and k lbd it 



THE DUNSTAN FAMILY. 83 

by striking its head against a tree. Poor Mrs. Dun- 
stan, faint from weakness and heart-broken, was 
made to march on through snow and mud, not dar- 
ing to utter one groan of distress — for several of the 
captives who had been unable to proceed from weari- 
ness had made complaint, and the Indians had struck 
them with their tomahawks and left them dead by 
the side of the road. Strength and energy appeared 
to be given to the feeble woman and she endured 
what at first seemed impossible, and finally arrived 
at the end of the tedious journey of one hundred 
and fifty miles through the wilderness without 
serious injury. Mrs. Dunstan, the nurse, and a boy 
who was taken prisoner at the same time, were 
claimed by one Indian as his personal property, and 
taken to his wigwam. They were very much sur- 
prised to find that the savages had been taught by 
the French a certain kind of worship. They were 
very particular about going through with a form of 
prayer before eating, and instructed their children 
in doing the same before lying down at night. Still 
they would not allow the English women to pray in 
their own language. They would say, " What need 
you trouble yourself! If your God will have you 
delivered, it shall be so." And so it was to be — for 
He who can hear the most secret desire of the heart 
as well as the loudest speech listened to the plead- 
ings of these sad women and g^ye them strength 
to work out their own deliverance. Every day Mrs. 
Dunstan and the nurse were made to work with 
the Indian women. They lived on coarse food, 
slept at night upon the ground, and suffered con- 



84 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

tinually from fatigue and misery. The last week 
in April, the inmates of their wigwam started on a 
journey. The Indians told the women that they 
were going to a village a long way distant, and when 
they reached the place they would be put to tor- 
ture by running the gauntlet. They then explained 
this mode of punishment. The savages told them 
they would have their clothes taken away from them 
and be made to run between two long lines of In- 
dians, each holding a club with which to strike at 
them as they passed. When the women shud- 
dered at the terrible thought, they made sport of 
the weakness of the whites, for they said some 
would groan and even faint when suffering, but an 
Indian was more brave, and would submit to it 
without any sign of pain. This information made 
the prisoners desperate. All hope of escape seemed 
to be in vain. They thought of trying to run away, 
but knew their enemies were so much swifter on 
foot they could easily overtake them. So the three 
captives formed the bold plan of killing the Indians. 
The boy told his master he wanted to make a great 
warrior, and asked where he should strike a person in 
order to kill him. The Indian showed him and he 
told the others. The captives secreted hatchets 
under the skins on which they slept. Early in the 
morning on the last day of April they rose as soon as 
it was light enough to distinguish one from another, 
and finding all in a deep sleep, they killed ten In- 
dians. One squaw and an Indian boy escaped. 
They then started with the scalps of these savages 
in the direction of home. They wandered through 



THE DUNSTAN FAMILY. 85 

the woods until they reached a stream of water ; 
finding an empty canoe they seized it, paddled 
down the river, and at length arrived in safety at 
Haverhill. We cannot describe the joyful meeting. 
Mr. Dunstan had made up his mind that his wife 
had been murdered by the savages, and those long 
weeks she knew not but that her husband and chil- 
dren had shared the same fate. It was well for the 
captives that they brought with them the scalps of 
the Indians, else some might have doubted the truth 
of their statements. As it was, the General As- 
sembly in Boston voted them fifty pounds for their 
heroic conduct ; besides, they received numerous 
presents from friends throughout the country. 
Even Colonel Nicholson, the governor of Mary- 
land, heard the story and sent them a valuable 
gift. 



86 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



XII. 

UNCAS. 

Uncas, the brave chief of the Mohegans, was in 
appearance " every inch a king." He was very tall 
and erect, with a large frame finely formed, and 
possessed great physical strength. He was proud 
of his good looks and power, and was just the man 
to command respect among the Indians. He was 
fond of fighting, and liked to show his ability in 
strategy as well as in open warfare. He was kind 
to his own men, but selfish, deceitful, and often 
cruel to his enemies. The Pequots were a powerful 
tribe of Indians living in the southeastern part of 
Connecticut. Uncas married the daughter of Sas- 
sacus, the grand sachem of the tribe, for he was the 
sagamore of the Mohegans, who were a clan of the 
Pequots. Some difficulty arose between Uncas and 
Sassacus, and the former fled to the Narragansetts, 
for the tribes were sworn enemies. After remain- 
ing with tnem for a while Uncas begged permission 
to return, and it was granted. He was soon in 
trouble again and obliged to leave that part of the 
country. Finally, with twenty or thirty warriors and 
some other Indians who had joined themselves to 
him, he stationed himself on the banks of the Con- 
necticut river near the township of Hartford. He 
formed a friendship with the white settlers, which in 



UNCAS. 8? 

after years proved of great benefit to both parties. 
Before the state of Connecticut was settled by the. 
English there had been difficulty between the In- 
dians and some Dutch traders, which prejudiced the 
Pequots against all the whites. In the spring of 1636 
a trader named John Oldham was murdered by the 
Block-Island Indians and his two boys captured. 
The English demanded one thousand fathoms of 
wampum and some of the children of the Pequots 
as hostages, for it was claimed that they had 
concealed the murderers. The Oldham boys were 
sent with a guide to Boston. The Indians were 
indignant at such a demand and decided to secure 
the assistance of the Narragansetts and extermi- 
nate the white settlers. 

The English heard this report and were fright- 
ened at the prospect of a union between two such 
powerful and warlike tribes, and besought the per- 
secuted Roger Williams to prevent it. He suc- 
ceeded, and the Narragansetts remained friendly to 
the English, but the Pequots continued to trouble 
the settlers in Connecticut. The commander of the 
fort at Saybrook was attacked by them and three of 
his number killed. Another portion of the tribe 
killed nine persons in Wethersfield and carried 
away two girls as captives. These and other acts 
of cruelty led the English to take measures for self- 
defense. A council met in Hartford on the first of 
May, 1637, and after serious deliberation it was de-. 
cided to make war against the Pequots. On the 
twentieth of the same month Captain Mason, with 
ninety Englishmen and seventy Indians, sailed 



88 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

from Hartford down the river for Saybrook. Uncas 
asked that he might go with his warriors by land, as 
he was well acquainted with the route. The request 
was granted, and he fell in with some of the enemy 
in a forest and killed seven of them and lost but 
one man. This proof of his friendship was very 
pleasing to the English. Still, when they arrived 
at the fort in Saybrook, Lieutenant Gardner, the 
commander, said to Captain Mason, " How dare 
you trust the Mohegans, who have but a year come 
from the enemy ? " " We are forced to trust them, 
for we want them to guide us," replied the captain. 
The officer was unwilling to trust Uncas until he 
had greater proof of his sincerity ; so he called him 
and said, " Uncas, you say you will help Captain 
Mason, but I will first see it ; therefore send twenty 
men to Bass river, for there went last night six 
Indians there in a canoe ; fetch them dead or alive, 
and you shall go with Mason ; else you shall not." 
Uncas started directly with his warriors, killed four 
of the men and took another prisoner and brought 
him to the fort. He was an Indian who had been 
a leader in the massacres of the English, and they 
did not interfere to save him. 

The Mohegans tied one of his legs to a post, then 
fastened a rope about the other, and the twenty 
warriors seized it to pull him asunder. Captain 
Underhill put an end to his sufferings by shooting 
him through the head with a pistol. Just as Cap- 
tain Mason and Uncas were about to start forward 
a vessel of Dutch traders stopped at Saybrook. 
Captain Mason tried to prevent their trading with 



UNCAS. 89 

the Pequots, for fear the Indians would use the ket- 
tles and metal they obtained for arrow heads, but 
told them they might proceed if they would ransom 
the two girls who were captives. This they agreed 
to do. They entered Pequot harbor and sailed a 
short distance up the Thames river. They told 
the Indians, when they sent articles on shore, 
they did not want wampum but the two English 
girls the Pequots had taken from Wethersfield. 
Sassacus was there and refused to let them go. 
The sailors then coaxed some noted Indians on 
board their vessel, and then called out to those on 
shore that they should hoist sail and turn all these 
men overboard into the ocean unless they gave up 
the girls. The Pequots at first made sport of the 
threat, but before the traders had reached the 
mouth of the river they sent some messengers in a 
canoe to overtake them, saying they would make 
the exchange. The girls were rejoiced to escape 
from the savages, though they had been treated 
with great attention. The kind-hearted Dutchmen 
carried them to Saybrook, and they soon reached 
their home in safety. Capt. Mason had received 
orders to make his attack upon the Pequots near 
the harbor. Learning that they had sixteen guns 
and some powder and shot, he decided to sail by to 
the country of the Narragansetts, obtain permis- 
sion to pass over their lands and attack the Pequots 
when least expected. Sixty warriors under Uncas 
and seventy-seven Englishmen started on their 
march through the wilderness. Many Indians 
joined them on their way. Guided by a Pequot de- 



90 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

serter they arrived within a few miles of one of the 
forts of Sassacus, which was located at Mystic. 
Some of the natives who had joined them now re- 
turned to their homes. Captain Mason called Un- 
cas to him and asked what he thought the Indians 
would do. " The Narragansetts will leave you, but 
as for myself I will never leave you," replied the 
brave chief. In Captain Mason's account of the war 
he says : " For which expression and for some other 
speeches of his I shall never forget him; indeed, he 
was a great friend, and did us great service." The 
soldiers stopped for the night at a place in Groton 
now marked with two large rocks ; the sentinels were 
so near the village they could hear the shouts of the 
Pequots. Early in the morning they started for the 
fort. The Indians were sleeping soundly and did 
not discover them until within about a rod from the 
rough thicket which surrounded it. A dog barked 
and an Indian who saw them cried out, " O wanux ! 
O wanux ! Englishmen ! Englishmen ! " Captain 
Mason and his men rushed forward and fired into 
the main entrance. Soon the Pequots fought des- 
perately, and the English captain saw that he must 
be repulsed or burn the fort. He seized a brand of 
fire and touched it to a wigwam, the flames caught 
quickly and soon set all in a blaze. It was a ter- 
rible spectacle. The fierce yells of the men — the 
shrieks and groans of the women and children, 
mingling with the noise of the firing and the*shouts 
of the Mohegans — all added to the horror of the 
scene. Seventy wigwams were destroyed and about 
six hundred Pequots killed or burned. Two of the 



UNCAS. 91 

English were killed and twenty wounded. The 
victory was complete. Sassacus with a few fol- 
lowers fled to the region of the Mohawks, and the 
rest of the tribe were scattered over the state. A 
reward was offered for their capture, and Uncas for 
a while was constantly in pursuit. He killed a 
Pequot sagamore near Guilford harbor, cut off his 
head and placed it in the crotch of a live oak, where 
it remainded a long time. The fleet in search of 
stray Pequots coasted along the shore for three 
days ; at last, seeing some smoke, they entered a 
fine harbor and landed, but found only a few friendly 
Indians from another tribe. This was the first visit 
of the English to the site of New Haven, and the 
description given by these men led to the settle- 
ment being made there the next year. Many of 
the Pequots, broken down and discouraged, became 
in time the allies of Uncas, and as they were origi- 
nally the same people, it was difficult to tell a Pe- 
quot from a Mohegan. 

Uncas being of the royal family claimed most of 
the land in New London county for his own pri- 
vate property, but gave a strip along the shore to 
the English. He continued to draw scattering In- 
dians to his standard and increased his power by 
again marrying into the family of a sachem. In 
July, 1638, Uncas with thirty-seven of his warriors 
visited Boston. He carried the governor twenty 
fathoms of wampum. The members of the council 
asked him some questions about shielding so many 
of the Pequots who were enemies to the whites. 
Uncas appeared deeply grieved to think they should 



Q2 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

doubt his friendship, and replied, placing his hand 
on his heart, " This heart is not mine ; it is yours. 
I have no men ; they are all yours. Command me 
any hard thing and I will do it. I will never 
believe any Indian's word against the English. If 
any Indian shall kill an Englishman, I will put him 
to death, be he never so dear to me." He was faith- 
ful to his promises, though the English sometimes 
felt that it was not from affection or principle, but 
only to advance his own interests. 

Uncas was frequently consulted in regard to the 
treatment of different Indian tribes. The Narra- 
gansetts complained that the Mohegans robbed and 
murdered some of their men. They appealed to the 
English for justice. A court met at Hartford and 
Miantinomo was present to plead the cause of the 
Narragansetts, and Uncas that of the Mohegans 
The affair was settled peaceably and the chiefs shook 
hands together. A few hours after the Narragan- 
sett chief asked Uncas to eat with him of his veni- 
son, and he would not, showing that his forgiveness 
did not come from the heart. Uncas sold large 
tracts of land from time to time to the English, and 
years afterward there was some trouble about it 
with his descendants. * All that was paid for one 
lot sold was " five yards of cloth, and a few pairs of 
stockings." Uncas could not live long in peace ; 
he loved war. Sequassen was the chief of the 
Connecticut-river Indians, and he was jealous of 
the growing power of the chief of the Mohegans. 
One of Uncas's noted warriors was killed, and the 
murderer fled and was protected by Sequassen 



uncas. 93 

The English tried to have him give up the guilty 
man, but when he refused they gave Uncas per- 
mission to settle his own quarrel if he would re- 
spect the rights and property of the English. Ac- 
cordingly he marched with his warriors into the 
territory of Sequassen, defeated his men in battle, 
captured the murderer, and returned without much 
loss and with a good deal of plunder. Miantinomo 
was a relative of the defeated chief, and now the Nar- 
ragansetts determined to unite with him and revenge 
the deed. Uncas had a fort on the Thames river, 
about five miles below where the city of Norwich 
now stands. His spies brought him word that the 
Narragansett chief was approaching with his war- 
riors. Uncas called his men together and moved 
forward to fight him on the road. The armies met 
on a great plain. Uncas had told his men of his 
plan to deceive the chief. When they were within 
bow-shot he asked permission to speak, and it was 
granted. Both armies halted. Uncas stepped in 
front of his warriors and said to Miantinomo, " You 
have a number of stout men with you, and so have I 
with me. It is a great pity that such brave war- 
riors should be killed. Let us fight it out ; if you 
kill me, my men shall be yours ; if -I kill you, your 
men shall be mine." 

The Naragansett chief replied, " My men came 
to fight, and they shall fight." Uncas being all 
ready for such a reply, dropped down with his face 
to the ground as a signal for his men to fight. 
With one terrible yell they rushed forward and fired 
their arrows into the Narragansetts and put them 



94 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

to flight. They pursued them a long distance. 
Some of the fastest runners overtook Miantinomo, 
and seeing he was tired out passed him, and let 
Uncas, who was near, have the honor of taking him. 
The defeated chief sat with his eyes fixed upon the 
ground with a look of despair, and no power or 
persuasion could make him speak one word. Uncas 
carried him in triumph to the Mohegans and then 
sent him to Hartford. Here Miantinomo opened 
his lips and asked that he might be left a prisoner 
with the English — thinking probably he would 
receive more mercy from them. The council de- 
cided Uncas would not be safe as long as he lived, 
so gave him up to his direction, with orders not to 
torture him if he took his life. The chief with a 
few Mohegans marched him to the spot where he 
was taken prisoner, and a warrior struck him on 
the back of his head with a hatchet and killed him 
instantly. Uncas showed a little of the savage, for 
he cut out a large piece of flesh from his shoulder 
and ate it, saying, " It was the sweetest meat he 
ever ate, it made his heart strong." Miantinomo 
was buried on the spot where he fell, and a pile of 
stones marked the grave for many years. The 
Narragansetts sought revenge for the death of their 
chief, and Uncas was obliged to call upon the En- 
glish to use their power in his defense. In the year 
1 65 6, the Mohegans had trouble with the Podunk In- 
dians. Uncas sent word to their chief that he would 
send to the Mohawks to destroy both him and his 
people. He did not believe it. So Uncas secured 
some Mohawk weapons, and one still, dark night, 



uncas. 95 

sent a brave young warrior to set a wigwam on fire 
near the fort and leave his weapons a little way 
from it on the ground. When the Podunks saw 
them they knew from their make they belonged 
to the Mohawks, and sent word to Uncas that 
they would make peace with him. The English 
very frequently received complaints from various 
tribes against the Mohegan chief, but when Uncas 
appeared before the court he would plead his own 
cause so eloquently he was usually acquitted. In 
the year 1679, Norwich jail was burned by some 
Indians, and Uncas was made to give a large tract 
of land to be sold to make good the loss, though he 
was innocent and had not the least knowledge of 
the act. The old chief beheld with sorrow bis 
lands passing away, and asked the English to mark 
out his possessions. The Rev. James Fitch, a de- 
voted minister, who labored earnestly for the good 
of the Mohegans, said that Uncas was friendly to 
him only as a matter of policy, and he did not place 
the least confidence in him. The only instance in 
which he showed any faith in the God of the white 
man was when there had been a very dry spell and 
he had urged Mr. Fitch to pray for rain. In a short 
time so much rain fell that the river rose two feet. 
Uncas acknowledged it was in answer to the 
prayers of the white man, not to the powwows. 
In the last great war between the colonists and the 
Indians, called King Phillip's, Uncas went to Bos- 
ton and carried all the firearms belonging to his 
tribe, to show his friendship to the English. After 
the " swamp fight," some of the hostile Indians came 



95 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

to" Connecticut and were placed under the control 
of the Mohegan chief, but afterwards they had some 
land assigned to them. The precise time and place 
of Uncas's death is not known ; it probably occurred 
in the year 1683. He was succeeded by his son 
Oweneco, who for a few years made a good chief, 
but later in life he became intemperate and deeded ' 
away his lands for " fire water." When an old man 
he wandered about with his squaw, living on the 
charity of the Indians and colonists near Mohegan. 
He carried his blanket and gun, and she wore a 
leather bag on the back of her neck, fastened with 
a strap around the forehead, in which she placed 
whatever was given to them. As they could not 
speak English one of the white settlers wrote for 
them this petition : 

'■Oneco, king, his queen doth bring, 
To beg a little food ; 
As they go along his friends among 
To try how kind, how good. 

" Some pork, some beef, for their relief, 
And if you can't spare bread, 
She'll thank you for pudding, as they go a gooding, 
And carry it on her head." 



HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM. 97 



XIII. 

HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM. 

Quebec is situated on the north bank of the river 
St. Lawrence, and consists of two parts, the upper 
and lower town. Both are strongly fortified by na- 
ture. The lower town is built on the plain, which 
is bounded by the river St. Charles on the east, and 
a high ledge of rocks on the west. This steep as- 
cent, which rises from the St. Lawrence in an almost 
perpendicular direction for nearly two hundred feet, 
is called the Heights of Abraham. The upper town 
is situated on*the plain at the top, and here the fort 
is located. Quebec was settled at about the same 
time as Jamestown, but increased rapidly in popu- 
lation, and soon became quite an important place. 

When the British decided to take the French 
possessions in Canada, they sent out three different 
expeditions. The most important one, that for 
taking Quebec, was committed to the charge of 
General James Wolfe, a young officer who displayed 
great military skill and bravery in the battle of Lou- 
isburg. It was through the influence of Sir Wil- 
liam Pitt that he received the appointment. In 
June, 1759, he landed with an army of eight thou- 
sand men at the island of Orleans, just below Que- 
bec. Here he learned by observation and experi- 
ence what a difficult task lay before him. There 

5 



9o HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

was the river St. Charles on one side, with its armed 
vessels and a boom across its mouth — the rapid St. 
Lawrence in front — the Heights of Abraham at the 
west — and, in addition to the natural defenses, the 
brave General Montcalm, with a well-disciplined 
army. General Wolfe took possession of Point 
Levi, on the southern bank of the St. Lawrence, 
and erected some batteries. The distance was so 
great and the guns so low, they only destroyed a 
number of houses in the city, but did not injure the 
fortifications of the enemy. 

He then crossed the Montmorenci river with his 
troops to attack the French army in their intrench- 
ments. Some of the boats did not land as soon as 
the others, and the soldiers being impatient to fight, 
without waiting to form, rushed forward to the ene- 
my's breastwork. The French poured a steady fire 
upon them, which made terrible havoc. That night 
General Wolfe retreated to the island of Orleans 
leaving five hundred brave boys, the flower of his 
army, lying dead on the field. He next attempted to 
destroy the shipping, but only succeeded in burning 
one magazine. General Wolfe, worn with care and 
anxiety, and rot receiving the aid he expected, was 
taken very sick. • It was when he was recovering, 
and rot able to rise from his bed, he formed the 
bold plan of ascending the heights and fighting a 
battle on the plain. He proposed it to some of his 
officers, who were young and ambitious like himself, 
and they entered heartily into the project. Gen- 
eral Wolfe, in order to conceal his design, went up 
the river about nine miles with his army. On the 



HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM. 99 

1 2th of September, in the stillness of midnight, 
they entered the small boats and quietly descended 
the river. A French sentinel on the shore chal- 
lenged them : " Qui vit ?" " Who goes there ? " A 
captain in one of the regiments who could speak 
French replied, " La France." The sentinel then 
asked ; " A quel regiment ? " " To what regiment ?" 
The officer happened to know the name of a 
regiment belonging to the enemy that was ex- 
pected to pass down with some provisions for the 
soldiers, and he answered promptly, " De la Reine." 
" The Queen's." The sentinel then gave the order, 
" Passe," and they quietly pursued their way. The 
current was so strong they went farther down than 
they expected, and landed only a mile and a half 
above Quebec. They had now reached a point 
which General Montcalm supposed nature had de- 
fended in so strong a manner that it did not require 
many of his forces. General Wolfe was the first to 
spring upon shore. The army soon followed, and 
an hour before daylight they started to ascend the 
Heights of Abraham. There was but one narrow, 
rough path, and in that the rocks were so shelving 
it seemed almost impossible to climb over them. 
By the aid of bushes, crags, and a persevering 
spirit, the difficult task was completed, and at sun- 
rise they stood upon the summit. Those who as- 
cended first secured a small battery on the plain, so 
the rest could arrive in safety. 

Words cannot express the surprise of General 
Montcalm when told that the English army were 
on the plains of Abraham, ready for battle ! He 



100 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

called out his soldiers and prepared them for an en- 
gagement. Before ten o'clock the two armies were 
in readiness for the fierce contest. General Wolfe 
would not allow his soldiers to reply to the fire of 
the Canadians and Indians, who stationed them- 
selves in cornfields and behind the bushes, but 
waited until the main body of the French army was 
within forty yards of them — then gave the order. 
The French soldiers ran forward to meet the 
enemy. The firing on both sides was almost con- 
stant and the slaughter terrible. The soldiers in 
the opposing armies fought desperately. General 
Wolfe was wounded in the wrist, but only stopped 
to tie his handkerchief around it — another ball 
struck him in the lower part of his body, which he 
tried to conceal, and still urged forward his men. 
The third bullet hit him in the breast — this obliged 
him to yield, for the loss of so much blood made 
him faint, and his men against his wishes carried 
him to the rear. He heard the cry, " They fly, they 
fly," and asked, " Who fly ?" When told it was the 
French, he answered, " Then I die contented." 
Thus died this brave young officer at the early 
age of thirty -three years. General Montcalm was 
wounded, but lived to be carried into the city. 
When told that his wound was mortal, and that he 
could not live but a short time, he replied, " So 
much the better, I shall not live to see the surrender 
of Quebec." His last moments were spent in writ- 
ing a letter to the English general, asking that 
kindness might be shown to the wounded and pris- 
oners. A few days after the battle, the city of 



ISRAEL PUTNAM. IOI 

Quebec passed into the hands of the English, and 
the next year Montreal was taken, and since that 
time those cities have remained in their possession. 
The body of General Wolfe was carried to England 
and buried in the family vault at Greenwich. A 
granite pillar ten feet in height now marks the spot 
where he breathed his last. It contains this in- 
scription, " Here died Wolfe, Victorious? 



XIV. 
ISRAEL PUTNAM. 



Israel Putnam was born in Salem, Massachusetts, 
in the year 1718. He was gifted with a strong 
mind in an active, vigorous body ; and when a boy 
he took the lead in his native town in such sports 
as running, gaming, and wrestling. 

The first time he visited Boston, he had quite a 
rustic look. A boy almost twice his size followed 
him in the street, laughing at his clothes and mak- 
ing sport of his awkward manners. Young Put- 
nam bore these insults for awhile without saying a 
word, and tried to pass peaceably on his way ; at 
length patience with him ceased to be a virtue ; he 
turned suddenly, caught the fellow and gave him 
such a drubbing that he begged to be let off and 



102 HISTORICAL^ FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

skulked out of sight — to the great amusement 
of the spectators. When Putnam was twenty-one 
years of age he moved to Pomfret, in Connecticut, 
where he bought a farm and worked hard, clearing 
up the ground. In those days this country was 
infested with wolves. One night Putnam had sev- 
enty-five sheep and goats killed. It appears that 
a she wolf and her young ones came to visit this 
town every year, going away richer, but always 
leaving the farmers poorer for her call. Sometimes 
the whelps were killed, but the old wolf always 
made out to escape, and the only glimpse of her 
they had obtained as yet was the toes of one foot 
she once left in a steel trap. It did not suit one of 
Putnam's courage to be treated in this way, and he, 
with five others who had been robbed, took his turn 
going in search of her. One morning after a light 
snow had fallen they tracked the wolf about three 
miles from the village, where they found she had a 
den in a ledge of rocks. 

The place where she entered was on the east side, 
in an opening of about two feet each way. A man 
could not stand erect anywhere in the den, and at 
the broadest part it was not over three feet in 
width. The good news spread rapidly among the 
farmers, and soon a crowd collected to help catch 
the wolf. They brought guns, dogs, straw, fire, and 
brimstone. At first the dogs were in great haste 
to enter the den, but soon came out with their tails 
dropped between their legs and so badly scratched 
no coaxing or driving could induce them to return. 
Straw soaked in brimstone was then crowded into 



ISRAEL PUTNAM. 



103 



the den ana set on fire, in order to suffocate the 
fierce animal with smoke or drive her out of her 
hiding place. All efforts were in vain. It was ten 
o'clock at night and the wolf not killed, and if they 
left her she would surely escape. Putnam did 
not like to give it up so. He tried once more to 







PUTNAM S WOLF DEN. 



make his dog enter, but of no use. He then pro- 
posed to his colored man to go in and see if the wolf 
was dead, and if not shoot her, but he did not relish 
the idea. Then Putnam said he should go in him- 
self. His neighbors entreated him not to do it, but 
go he would. He took off his coat and waistcoat, 
tied long ropes about his legs, so that at a given 
signal he could be drawn out; then taking a torch 
of birch bark in one hand, he went head first into 



104 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

the den. He crawled along on the rocks for the 
distance of fifteen feet in an oblique direction, next 
passed through a horizontal passage nearly ten feet 
in length, but no wolf to be seen as yet. Then there 
was a gradual ascent of sixteen feet, which he climbed 
on his hands and knees, until in the farthest corner 
he saw the fierce old wolf with her eyeballs glar- 
ing directly at him. She uttered a terrible growl. 
Putnam gave the signal, and was drawn out so 
quickly that his shirt was drawn over his head and 
his body cut with the stones in several places. His 
friends heard the wolf and feared he was hurt. He 
now loaded his gun with nine buck-shot, and with 
his torch in one hand and musket in the other en- 
tered the den for the second time. He approached 
nearer and nearer to the wolf, and when she was just 
ready to spring at him he aimed and fired. The 
noise of firing in so small a place gave him such a 
shock he was not conscious until drawn out into 
the pure air. He waited a short time for the 
smoke to escape. Then into the den he went for 
the third time. Seeing the wolf very quiet, he went 
near enough to touch her nose with his torch ; find- 
ing she was lifeless he took her by the ears, gave 
the signal by kicking the rope, and both were 
drawn out of the dismal den. Such a shout as went 
up from the crowd that dark night was not often 
heard at so late an hour in the land of steady habits ! 
During the French war Putnam had command of 
the first soldiers sent from Connecticut He was 
of great service to the army when Crown Point was 
taken by the British, and in 175 7, was promoted to 



ISRAEL PUTNAM. 105 

the rank of major by the legislature of the state. 
Frequently, when stationed near Ticonderoga, his 
courage led him into places from which his flight 
seemed almost a miracle. At one time in an affair 
with the French and Indians, Putnam escaped with 
twelve bullet holes in his blanket. Again in 1758, 
when he was stationed near Fort Edward to watch the 
enemy, he was unexpectedly surrounded by a party 
of soldiers larger than his own, and though he fought 
fiercely, was taken prisoner. The Indians bound 
him to a tree in a place where the balls from both 
armies fell all about him. After the battle they 
decided to roast him alive. They piled up the dry 
brush around him and set it on fire. A sudden 
shower of rain extinguished the flame, Still the 
savages strove to rekindle it until the blaze again 
appeared. At this moment the French commander 
Molang, who had but just heard of the act, rushed 
to his rescue and saved his life. Putnam was carried 
to Montreal and remained a prisoner for many 
months, but was finally exchanged through the in- 
fluence of Colonel Schuyler, who was taken captive 
at the same time. 

When peace was declared between France and 
England Major Putnam returned to his farm. He 
was in the field ploughing when the news arrived 
of the battle of Lexington. He unyoked his oxen, 
left his plough in the furrow, and without stopping 
to change his clothes, started for Cambridge, Mas- 
sachusetts. After learning the true state of affairs 
he returned to Connecticut, raised a regiment and 
went back to the camp. He showed such courage 



ICvJ HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

and activity he was soon promoted to the office of 
Major General. He was in the battle at Bunker's 
Hill, and as he knew that powder and shot were 
scarce he gave this order to his men : " Boys, keep 
cool ! keep cool ! don't fire a gun till you see the 
whites of their eyes, and then bore it into them." 
His soldiers gained great honor for the work they 
accomplished that day. After the retreat he made 
a stand and drove back the enemy, when some of 
his men, for want of ammunition, had to fight with 
the butt end of their muskets. When General 
Washington was appointed commander of the army 
he sent General Putnam to Brooklyn, Long Island, 
in charge of the reserve. Through some oversight 
a road was left carelessly guarded, and the British 
approached the American troops in front and rear. 
The soldiers fought bravely, but at last were obliged 
to yield to the superior force of the enemy. During 
the winter General Putnam had charge of the works 
built to fortify Philadelphia. In 1777, he was- sta- 
tioned at Princeton, New Jersey, where a little 
affair of interest occurred. ' The general had a pris- 
oner, a British captain, who was very sick and was 
anxious to have an officer come from the British 
army to assist him in making his will. General 
Putnam wanted to grant the wish of the dying man, 
but feared lest the enemy should by that means dis- 
cover how few men he had with him. So he sent a 
flag of truce and directed that the man be brought 
after dark. That evening he gave orders to have 
all the rooms in the college lighted, also a light 
placed in every vacant house in town. No remarks 



ISRAEL PUTNAM. 107 

were made. The British officer returned to the 
camp and reported that General Putnam had not 
less than four or five thousand men under his com- 
mand. In the spring of 1779, General Putnam had 
charge of the encampment at Reading, Connecti- 
cut, but happened to be in West Greenwich when 
General Try on made his raid into that state. It was 
early in the morning, and as General Putnam stood 
shaving himself he saw the red coats reflected in 
the glass as they were coming down the road. He 
dropped his razor, and with his face half shaved he 
collected what forces he could and started in pur- 
suit He made a stand on the brow of a steep hill 
in Horseneck, a place in West Greenwich. He 
placed the two old iron cannon, which he had found, 
near the church, and with his army of one hundred 
and fifty men he poured a steady fire upon the en- 
emy. Their number was so great it had but little ef- 
fect. Seeing that his forces must be captured if they 
remained longer in that position, he told his men to 
retreat to a swamp near and save themselves if pos- 
sible. The hill on one side was very steep, and the 
inhabitants to save the trouble of going around had 
placed a short distance apart about one hundred 
steps. General Putnam wheeled about, put spurs 
to his horse and rode down the side of the hill at 
full gallop. His pursuers came to the brink but did 
not dare follow. They fired at him and a bullet 
passed through his hat, but lie escaped uninjured. 
Since that eventful day a road has been cut over 
the hill, the rocks blasted, and the steps removed ; 
so we cannot form any idea of the dangerous ride 



108 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

by visiting the spot, When General Putnam was 
in command at the Highlands the British General 
Tryon sent him a long and very insulting letter, 
holding forth terrible threats if a lieutenant in his 
army, who had been taken as a spy, was not re- 
turned in all haste. General Putnam sent this cool 
reply : 

A. M. — Sir: — Nathan Palmer, a lieutenant in your 
service, was taken in my camp as a spy — he was tried as 
a spy — he was condemned as a spy — and he shall be 
hanged as a spy. 

ISRAEL PUTNAM." 

"P. S. — Afternoon.— He is hanged." 

General Putnam was the one who first saw the 
natural advantages of West Point, and proposed 
that site for a fort to General Washington. The 
last active work of his life was his labor in 
strengthening the fortifications at that place. In 
the year 1779, the activity of his body was im- 
paired by a kind of paralysis, but his mind re- 
mained clear and strong to the day of his death. 
He spent his last years in retirement with his rela- 
tives in Connecticut, and died at Brooklyn in that 
state. His monument stands in the grave yard 
south of the village. On the marble slab at the top 
is this inscription : 

" This monument is erected to the memory of the 
Honorable Israel Putnam, Esq., Major General in the 
armies of the United States of America, who was born at 
Salem, in the province of Massachusetts, on the 7th day 
of January, 17 18, and died at Brooklyn, in the state of 
Connecticut, on the 29th day of May. A. D. 1790. Pas- 



ISRAEL PUTNAM. IO9 

senger, if thou art a soldier, go not away till thou hast 
dropped a tear over the dust of a Hero, who, ever ten- 
derly attentive to the lives and happiness of his men, 
dared to lead where any one dared to follow. If thou 
art a Patriot, remember with gratitude how much thou 
and thy country owe to the disinterested and gallant ex- 
ertions of the Patriot who sleeps beneath this marble. 
If thou art an honest, generous, and worthy man, render 
a sincere and cheerful tribute of respect to a man whose 
generosity was singular, whose honesty was proverbial ; 
and who, with a slender education, with small advan- 
tages, and without powerful friends, raised himself to 
universal esteem and to offices of eminent distinction 
by personal worth and by the diligent service of a use- 
ful life." 



110 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



XV. 

ETHAN ALLEN. 

In the cold month of January, 1737, in the 
county of Litchfield, Connecticut, Ethan Allen 
first saw the light When a boy he was con- 
sidered a brave fellow by his companions, and 
though his love of the ludicrous sometimes placed 
him in rather difficult positions, he was generally 
found on the side of right. A story is related of 
him which illustrates his character. In those days 
good school buildings were not as frequently found 
in country towns as at the present time. Any 
house with roof and sides was considered fit for a 
school. It appears that in the district where young 
Allen attended, a building was hired which had once 
been used as a place for killing animals, and the ring 
or staple still remained in the beam overhead, with 
the ropes in the pully fastened one side, out of the 
way, which had been used in drawing up the cattle to 
dress. The teacher was an old man, and when tired 
would sit in his straight-backed arm chair until 
he fell asleep. Into Allen's active brain came the 
thought of having a little fun. It was to loosen the 
ropes, slip them under the chair, and, when made 
fast, very slowly to raise chair and teacher to the 
wall. He quietly whispered his plan to the boys, 
who, of course, were ready for any sport. Soon, 



ETHAN ALLEN III 

Allen, with two or three others, was steadily pulling 
at one end of the rope. Up, up, up it went until 
the back of the chair reached the beam. Never 
was there more perfect order in a school room than 
when this was being carefully secured. The teacher 
slept soundly until some scholar laughed aloud, 
when he suddenly awoke. As soon as the old gen- 
tleman realized his situation he ordered the scholars 
in an angry manner to let him down, and said he 
would flog every boy in school who had a hand in 
such a mean act. Those who laughed at first now 
began to grow frightened. When the teacher 
ceased speaking Ethan Allen rose and very calmly 
said : " Sir, we will let you down on one condition, 
and that is you must first promise not to punish 
a single scholar." " No, no, not I, you young 
rogue, you need not ask me to make such a promise, 
when you all know you deserve a good whipping," 
said the angry man. " Sir," continued Allen, " we 
read in our spelling book this morning, ' When the 
cat sleeps the mice will play.' " A faint smile came 
over the face of the schoolmaster, he hesitated a 
moment, then said, " That is so — very true — so you 
think / was to blame to go to sleep do you ? Well, 
well, let me down and be quiet about it and the 
next time the cat sleeps the mice may play? In a 
short time the teacher was safely lowered to the 
floor, and all were busily at work over their books. 
The boys did not forget that though Allen led them 
into the mischief he helped them out of it. After 
that day the master was never caught napping. 
When Ethan Allen was a young man his parents 



112 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

moved to Vermont. He soon joined the party 
which was in opposition to the government of New 
York. The trouble originated in this way. The 
territory of Vermont was settled at first by men 
who received their grants from New Hampshire. 
The English government afterwards decided it be- 
longed to New York, and the rulers of that state, 
instead of giving possession to those who were set- 
tled there, tried to drive them off from their farms 
by force ; the owners of course made resistance. 
They were called " Green-Mountain Boys," and Al- 
len became so noted a leader a reward was offered 
for him if he could be captured. His friends were 
many and true, and not one would betray him. The 
battle of Lexington led every patriot to forget all 
minor difficulties and rush at once for the defense 
of the country. The proposal was made to Col. Al- 
len from some gentlemen in Connecticut to raise a 
company, and they would assist in paying the ex- 
pense, to make an attack upon the forts at Ticonde- 
roga and Crown Point, for it was reported that they 
were not guarded by strong garrisons. He raised 
two hundred and thirty men, and on his way was 
joined by Col. Benedict Arnold, who had planned 
an attack at the same place, and with a smaller 
force from Massachusetts was about to execute it. 
To Col. Allen was given the general command, and 
Arnold was second in power. In order to know the 
position of the fort at Ticonderoga and the number 
of British soldiers stationed there, a Captain Phelps 
from Connecticut dressed himself like a tramper 
and one day strolled into the fort and asked for a 



ETHAN ALLEN. 113 

barber, saying he wanted to be shaved. He acted in 
so awkward a manner, and made such simple in- 
quiries about what he saw, the inmates had not the 
least thought of his being a spy. He returned to 
the American army with all the information they 
desired, and that night the troops started forward. 
They marched quietly through the country until 
they reached Lake Champlain, where they found 
some difficulty in obtaining boats to cross ; then 
were delayed witn a discussion between the two 
Colonels as to who should first enter the fort — Col. 
Arnold thinking as he conceived the plan of the at- 
tack he should enter first. The dispute was de- 
cided by the proposal of an officer that both should 
enter at the same time — Col. Allen at the right 
and Arnold at the left hand. Early in the morning 
on the ioth of May, 1775, the officers, with eighty- 
three soldiers, entered the harbor leading to the 
fort. Col. Allen made a short and stirring speech 
to the men, asking all who were ready to follow 
him in this daring enterprise to poise their fire- 
locks. All were ready. At the head he marched 
through the wicket gate, where a sentry was sta- 
tioned, who snapped his musket at him and then fled. 
Steadily they marched along the path until they 
passed into the fort, and the colonels formed the 
soldiers in such a manner as to face the two oppo- 
site barracks. They could remain silent no longer. 
Three loud huzzas awoke the sleeping garrison. One 
sentry, who wanted protection, sought it by pointing 
out the commander's room. Never was a man more 
thoroughly surprised than Capt. De LaPlace. Half 



114 HTSTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

dressed he rushed from his apartment. Col Allen 
stepped up to him and pointing his sword at his 
breast, in a loud voice said, " Sir, surrender this 
fort." The captain asked, " By whose authority do 
you demand this ? " " I demand it in the name of 
the Great Jehovah and of the Continental Con- 
gress," boldly answered Colonel Allen. The com- 
mander was so terrified at this action, and at see- 
ing the American soldiers all about him, he gave 
up the keys of the fort and surrendered its contents 
without a gun being fired. They took forty-nine 
prisoners and some valuable stores. The same day 
Crown Point was taken by Col. Warner and his 
troops without shedding of blood. Twice in one 
year Colonel Allen visited Canada and persuaded 
many of the people there to be friendly to the Amer- 
ican cause. In the fall of 1775, Colonel Allen, with 
eighty Canadians and one hundred and ten Amer- 
icans, made an attack upon the British forces at 
Montreal. He expected Col. Brown to work with 
him ; as he did not arrive at the time appointed, 
Col. Allen, almost rashly, fought against five hun- 
dred, and not until his men began to desert him 
and he had retreated a mile, would he surrender his 
sword. After he had given it up he barely escaped 
being killed ; a savage pointed his gun at him, but 
he stepped quickly behind the officer who had taken 
his weapon, and using him as a shield he was pro- 
tected. Col. Allen was now put in irons and re- 
ceived very cruel treatment. He was sent as a pris- 
oner to England, and during the voyage was often 
assured that when he arrived there he would be 



ETHAN ALLEN. 115 

hung by the neck until he was dead. Instead of 
hanging they confined him in a castle until the mid- 
dle of winter, when they again placed him on board 
a vessel and sent him in a round-about way to Hal- 
ifax, where he remained in jail for many months. 
In October he was shipped, with others, to New 
York. During the trip the captain of the ves- 
sel was very kind to him, and Col. Allen was the 
means of saving his life. There was one bold pris- 
oner on board who conceived the plan of killing the 
captain and seizing the vessel, but could not carry 
his designs into execution without the assistance of 
Col. Allen. This he could not obtain, for he pro- 
tested against such a base act and broke up the 
plot. Thus the captain of the vessel received* a di- 
rect reward for his kindness to one in trouble. 
When Col. Allen arrived in New York he received 
much better treatment. For more than two years 
he had been a prisoner, and the confinement began 
to affect his health. He grew so feeble the officers 
granted him more freedom than was given to others, 
and would frequently permit him to walk a short 
distance on parole. In the month of May, 1778, he 
was exchanged for a British officer of the same rank. 
Col. Allen's first act after gaining his liberty was to 
present himself to Gen. Washington and offer his 
services as soon as he should be able to fight. The 
news of his release spread rapidly through the coun- 
try. On his way to Vermont he received every 
possible attention from the people in the villages 
through which he passed. When he arrived at his 
home the cannons were fired, which were standing 



Il6 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

loaded, ready at the first sight of his face to an- 
nounce the fact to his friends and neighbors, who 
gathered in crowds, with shouts of joy to give him 
a hearty welcome. Col. Allen was not able again 
to join the army in active serviee. He was pro- 
moted to the office of general, and had control of 
all the militia in the state of Vermont. After the 
war some British leaders, knowing his power and 
influence over the " Green-Mountain Boys," offered 
him a sum of money to induce him to go through 
the state and persuade the citizens to sign a peti- 
tion to have Vermont joined to Canada, but he 
was not the man to accept a bribe nor take part 
against his country. He was noted for his integrity. 
Once he .gave his note to a person for one hundred 
and fifty dollars, and when the time arrived for pay- 
ment he was unable to raise the money — conse- 
quently he was sued. He engaged a lawyer to in- 
tercede for him and have the settlement postponed 
until he could make payment. Great was the sur- 
prise of Gen. Allen when his lawyer in court denied 
the signature of the note. He rose instantly and 
said, " Sir, I didn't hire you to come here and lie. 
That's a true note. I signed it and I'll pay it. I 
want no shuffling. All I want is time." His re- 
quest was granted, and the debt soon- paid. Gen. 
Allen wrote several pamphlets. He had not re- 
ceived a thorough education and he often expressed 
himself in a rough manner. His first printed doc- 
ument was a statement of the troubles between Ver- 
mont and New York, in which he vigorously de- 
fended the inhabitants of the former state for op- 



ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR. H7 

posing the government of the latter. His argu- 
ments had a great influence upon the minds of the 
people. He also published an account of his prison 
life, which was filled with sad but interesting facts, 
and was read by many. His other writings were 
not circulated to any extent. Gen. Allen died sud- 
denly at his estate in Colchester, Vermont, at the 
age of fifty-two years. 



XVI. 
ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR. 

Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Conn. 
He moved to New Haven when a young man, and 
was employed in a drug store there for several years. 
Not liking the business he went to sea, and in time 
became master of a vessel. Once a complaint was 
made against him to the authorities for importing 
contraband goods, and he was ordered to receive 
forty lashes with a small cord as a punishment. 
Captain Arnold defended himself with the plea that 
the English acts were so oppressive that every sen- 
sible man ought to try and encourage trade and not 
listen to those who informed against such captains. 

The news of the battle of Lexington reached 
New Haven in the night ; the ringing of bells and 



1 18 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

the firing 01 cannon awoKe all the people. Captain 
Arnold was at that time in command of the Gov- 
ernor's Guards. He called out his company and 
asked how many would join the army. About forty 
were ready. In those days powder was very scarce, 
and he requested the town officers to furnish him 
with ammunition, but they did not think it best. 
The next day he marched his soldiers in front of 
the house where the selectmen were holding a meet- 
ing, and sent in word that if the keys of the pow- 
der house were not given him in five minutes he 
should give orders to his men to break the.building 
open and help themselves. The keys were deliv- 
ered, and soon the New Haven boys, well supplied, 
marched on their way. The people in every village 
through which they passed treated them kindly and 
they received much praise for their good looks and 
conduct. When they reached Cambridge they oc- 
cupied a fine mansion which had belonged to a 
wealthy royalist. It was the only company that ar- 
rived all ready for action. Even a British officer ex- 
pressed surprise at their soldier-like appearance. 

Captain Arnold was promoted to the office of colo- 
nel, and took an active part in the capture of the 
fort at Ticonderoga, as has been stated in the sketch 
of the life of Ethan Allen. After this victory and 
the one at Crown Point, all that prevented the con- 
trol of Lake Champlain by the Americans was an 
armed sloop belonging to the British, which lay at 
the north end of it. Colonel Arnold determined to 
take it. He fitted out a schooner with arms and 
men, sailed up the lake, surprised and captured 



ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR. II9 

the vessel, and the wind changing suddenly, in an 
hour he sailed back with his prize. All were 
pleased with his bravery, and in a short time eleven 
hundred soldiers were placed under his command, 
and he was sent on an expedition to Canada. 

The state of Maine was then a wilderness. It 
was the month of September when they started on 
their perilous journey. The troops were taken in 
large transports to the mouth of the Kennebec, 
then entered small boats to ascend the river. It 
was a difficult task ; they often rowed against wind 
and tide, and sometimes were obliged to land and 
carry their boats around the rapids and cataracts. 
When they left the river and started on their march 
they had to wade through swamps and climb over 
precipices, and they found the snow so deep and the 
trees so thick they frequently had to cut their way. 
Some days they could not advance more than seven 
or eight miles. They had lost some of their provis- 
ions and now they suffered for want of food. They 
had to kill their dogs to eat, and some were so 
starved they ate the leather on their cartridge 
boxes. For the last thirty miles their sufferings 
were very great ; still Colonel Arnold encouraged 
his soldiers under all these difficulties to persevere 
and they should soon receive help. 

The first village they entered was settled by 
French Canadians, who generously supplied all 
their wants. The British were in possession of 
Quebec and did not know that an expedition had 
been sent to take it. Colonel Arnold obtained 
some canoes, crossed the river St. Lawrence, as- 



120 H1ST0RICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

cended the Heights of Abraham, where the gallant 
Wolfe had been before him, and demanded the sur- 
render of the fort ; but the British officer would 
not, and fired upon his flag. His force was not suf- 
ficient to take it by storm, and it was too late to at- 
tempt it by surprise, so he withdrew a short dis- 
tance with his soldiers until General Montgomery 
arrived from Montreal with his men. On the first 
of December, 1775, they commenced the siege of 
Quebec and continued it for nearly a month to lit- 
tle or no effect. Then they formed the bold plan 
of scaling the walls. One morning, under the cover 
of a snow storm, two attacks were made at the same 
time in different places by the soldiers of Mont- 
gomery and Arnold. They passed the first barrier, 
and while attempting to carry the second the brave 
General Montgomery fell, to the loss and grief of 
America. Colonel Arnold pushed forward until a 
musket ball struck him in the leg and he was car- 
ried off the field by his men. About one hundred 
soldiers were killed and three hundred taken pris- 
oners. Colonel Arnold then retreated to a point 
about three miles below the city, and there block- 
aded it for the rest of the winter. Though provis- 
ions were very scarce and expensive the British 
general, Carleton, should ever be remembered with 
honor for his kind treatment of the American pris- 
oners. In the spring so many of the men sickened 
and died Colonel Arnold withdrew his forces from 
Canada. 

In the year 1777, the British made an attack upon 
Connecticut, in order to destroy some public stores 



ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR. 1 21 

of powder and beef. General Arnold was ordered 
to attack them in the front at Ridgefield. He went 
very near to the troops before there was any firing. 
Then scores of guns were discharged in an instant. 
General Arnold's horse was killed, but he was not 
hurt. In trying to escape a British soldier was 
just in the act of striking him with his bayonet, 
when Arnold fired and he fell dead. As soon as 
possible the general mounted another horse and 
pursued the enemy. There was some severe fight- 
ing and his second horse was wounded in the neck, 
but not killed. The British numbered so many 
more men they were able to finish their work of 
destruction. It was during this raid that General 
Wooster received his death wound, and when the 
members of Congress heard an account of the en- 
gagement they resolved to erect a monument to 
his memory. They also presented General Arnold 
with a fine horse all equipped for war. 

In the battle of Saratoga, fought October seventh, 
1777, General Arnold acted a very conspicuous part. 
He was again wounded in the leg. As he was now 
too lame for active service, General Washington ap- 
pointed him commander at Philadelphia. Here he 
led a very gay life. He married for his second wife 
a beautiful and accomplished lady whose father was 
a royalist, and of course opposed to the war. Gen- 
eral Arnold gave good dinners, drove fast horses, 
lived in style, and spent a great deal of money. He 
strove at first to pay his numerous debts by gamb- 
ling, not succeeding, he tried what was still worse — 
cheating the government. He made numerous 

6 



122 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

charges for things never purchased ; complaint was 
made against him and Congress ordered a court 
martial to try him He was found guilty, but owing 
to his former deeds of valor he was treated very 
leniently. General Washington was appointed to 
reprimand him. This he was grieved to do, but it 
was his duty, and he did it in as kind a manner as 
possible, 

Arnold was very angry and determined to re- 
venge. The friends of his wife encouraged him to 
seek it. So instead of reforming his conduct he 
set himself to work to see how he could accomplish 
this base purpose. He wrote a very humble letter 
to General Washington, pretending it did not suit 
him to live in Philadelphia, and asking for the com- 
mand of West Point. The General hesitated before 
granting this request, but some of the officers re- 
counted Arnold's brave deeds and urged that the 
place be given him 

West Point is about sixty miles from New York, 
on the Hudson It was a very important post, and 
the powder for the American army was kept there. 
The fort commanded the river opposite excepting 
at one potint, There a large chain, the links made 
of iron two inches thick, was fastened to the rocks 
on both sides and kept afloat by logs in the middle 
of the stream. No vessel could pass it. After 
Arnold received the appointment and arrived at 
West Point he very politely thanked General 
Washington for granting him the place, while at 
the time he was corresponding with a British of- 
ficer about the surrender of the fort. For perform- 



ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR. 1 23 

ing this treacherous act Arnold wanted them to 
pay him a large sum of money and give him a 
high position in the army. All this they agreed to 
do. General Washington was obliged to leave the 
fort at this time to visit Hartford on some impor- 
tant business, and the plan was to surrender the 
fort the day before he returned. Everything worked 
well for the traitor until Major Andre, the British 
officer who was returning to New York with the 
necessary papers, was captured. The very day Ar- 
nold expected the British troops to take possession 
the news arrived that Andre was caught. Just as 
he stood thinking what to do, two officers brought 
him word that General Washington would be there 
in a few hours. He rushed to his quarters, told his 
wife to burn all his papers, for he must fly to New 
York. He hastened to the river, jumped into his 
boat and told the men to row him to the British 
sloop, which was waiting for Andre. He hurried 
on board, it spread sail and started for New York. 
From this vessel he wrote to General Washington, 
justifying his conduct and asking protection for his 
wife and infant child. In a few days Mrs. Arnold 
was conducted safely to her husband. 

When General Washington arrived at the fort 
his first inquiry was for General Arnold. The sol- 
diers told him what they had seen ; but all was a 
mystery — no one knew why he had fled. Just at 
this time the messenger bearing the papers taken 
from Major Andre arrived at the fort. While Gen- 
eral Washington was reading the eyes of all present 
were fastened upon him. He was a man of great 



124 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

self-control, but he trembled and turned pale as he 
said, "Arnold has betrayed us." One officer thought 
that some of the soldiers might be in league with 
him. " No," said Washington, "only Arnold could 
prove a traitor." He was right. Not to one Amer- 
ican soldier dare the traitor confide his base secret 
All means possible were used to secure the person 
of Arnold, but in vain. He entered the British 
army as brigadier general, and was sent with a 
large force to Virginia. He took Richmond, burnt 
houses, robbed stores and cruelly treated the people. 
He seized the negroes and sent a cargo of them to 
the West Indies, where they were sold and he 
pocketed the money. 

In the year 1 781, Arnold was mean enough to 
accept the charge of an expedition against his 
native state, in order if possible to capture the two 
forts at the mouth of the Thames river. Fort 
Trumbull was easily taken, but Fort Griswold was 
defended for a time with great bravery. After the 
soldiers had surrendered a British officer entered 
the fort and inquired who commanded it. Colonel 
Ledyard answered, " I did, but you do now," at the 
same time resigning his sword. The cruel officer 
took it and immediately plunged it into his heart. 
Sixty dwelling houses and a large number of stores 
were burnt in New London at the same time. 

At the close of the war Arnold went to England 
and received ten thousand pounds sterling as the 
reward of his villainy. There was much in his 
character to admire : his daring courage and the skill 
and bravery with which for many years he served 



ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR. 1 25 

the colonies. But there is still more to despise : he 
was extravagant, vicious, cruel, and without any 
firm moral principle. He once inquired of an 
American captain whom he had taken prisoner, 
" What do you think the Americans would do with 
me if I should fall into their hands ? " " Do with 
you ! they would cut off your leg wounded in their 
service and bury it with all the honors of war, the 
remainder of your body they would hang on a gib- 
bet," was his fearless reply. 

The last years of Arnold were very wretched — 
even those who bought him had no respect for him. 
He was frequently insulted in the street and some- 
times in his own house. He died in 1801, leaving 
a name covered with infamy. 



126 HISTORIC A LS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS 



XVII. 

ANDRE, THE SPY. 

John Andre entered the British army when only 
seventeen years of age. He was fine-looking, could 
read fluently in several languages, and was noted for 
his very agreeable manners. He soon won the re- 
spect and affection of those in power and was pro- 
moted to the rank of major. At the time of the 
Revolution he was aid-de-camp to Sir Henry Clin- 
ton, and it was to him that the British general con- 
fided the plan of taking West Point. It was neces- 
sary that some person should go and see Arnold 
before the fort was taken. Andre urged that he 
might be selected, and at last Gen. Clinton con- 
sented. On the twenty-first of September, 1780, 
Major Andre went on board the Vulture, a sloop-of- 
war, and it sailed up the Hudson as near to West 
Point as it could go without exciting suspicion. 
Arnold sent a boat for him and he landed between 
the posts of the two armies. It was a dark night, 
and Andre wore a long gray coat which concealed 
his uniform. He spent the night at the house of 
a Mr. Smith so busily plotting with Arnold they 
were not aware that it was morning until it was too 
late for him to return to the vessel. Through Ar- 
nold's influence and against his own wishes, Andre 



ANDRE, THE SPY. 127 

was taken within the American lines and concealed 
through the day. 

The next night he discovered that the Vulture 
had been obliged to drop down the river, as a gun 
had been brought to the shore and fired at her, 
and he could not find boatmen who would row him 
to the vessel. Andre wanted Arnold to order them 
to go , this he refused to do, for he was afraid if 
he did that he would be suspected. The only way 
left for Andre to escape was to go to New York by 
land Arnold furnished him with a plain suit of 
clothes, a horse, and a passport under the feigned 
name of John Anderson He passed all the guards 
safely until he was within sight of the British lines 
and thought himself secure Three men belonging 
to the militia were scouting between the two armies. 
Two let him pass, the third seized the bridle and 
stopped his horse. " Where are you bound ? " he 
asked. Andre, instead of showing his passport, 
answered by asking, " Where do you belong ?" 
" Below," said he. " So do I," answered Andre. 
Then, supposing the men were from New York, he 
told them he was a British officer on important 
business and must hasten forward. At this moment 
the other two militiamen came up — and too late for 
him, but just in time for this nation, Andre saw 
his mistake. The men who made the arrest were 
John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert. 
Andre offered a purse of gold and a new and valua- 
ble watch to these men if they would let him pass. 
They were all poor, but too rich in honor to accept 
a bribe. They searched him and no papers were 



128 HISTORICAL FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

found until they pulled off his boots, when, to their 
great surprise, plans of the fort at West Point, a 
letter and other papers were found in Arnold's hand- 
writing, directed to Gen. Clinton. They then took 
Andre to Col. Jameson, their commander, who could 
not believe his general was a traitor, and very un- 
wisely allowed him to send Arnold word that he was 
captured. All the papers taken were sent by a 
messenger in great haste to Gen. Washington, but 
missed of him as he was returning from Hartford to 
West Point by another route ; so they did not reach 
him until he arrived at the fort. 

After sending officers in pursuit of the traitor, the 
next thing to do was to put the fort in readiness for 
an attack. In Arnold's letter he told Gen. Clinton 
where to land, and at what hour, also that he would 
have most of the soldiers out of the fort at the time, 
so the British could rush in and take it as if by 
surprise ; and Gen. Washington thought it best to 
be all ready for them. 

During this time Andre was detained as a pris- 
oner at the house of a Mr. Gilbert in Tappan. A 
board of fourteen officers, of which Gen. Green 
was president, met to try the case. They did not 
examine witnesses, only listened to Andre's confes- 
sion, which he made in a very truthful manner. On 
the 29th of September they were agreed on this de- 
cision : "That Major Andre ought to be condemned 
as a spy, and that agreeably to the laws and usages 
of nations he ought to suffer death." Everything 
that Gen. Clinton and other influential friends could 
do was done to save the life of Andre. He was 



ANDRE, THE SPY. 1 29 

so young, so brave, so accomplished. Even Gen. 
Washington would have spared his life if he could 
have followed the impulse of his kind heart, but he 
signed the death warrant feeling that his country's 
welfare demanded that the decision of the board of 
war should be executed. Andre wrote to Gen. 
Washington after he heard the result of the trial, 
asking that he might be shot instead of hung. The 
question was referred to Gen Green, who replied, 
''Andre is either a spy or an honest man. If the lat- 
ter, to execute him in any way will be murder. If the 
former, the mode of his death is prescribed by law, 
and we have no right to alter it." Gen. Wash- 
ington in kindness did not reply, as he could not 
grant the request. Andre was treated with great 
respect by the American officers. He was con- 
fined in a room well furnished, and was allowed 
his own servant to wait upon him, and his 
meals were frequently sent from Gen. Washington's 
table. One day in speaking of the character of 
that great general, Andre said, " What a pity so 
noble a man should be a traitor to his king !" And 
again, when a special favor had been granted him 
by the commander-in-chief, he exclaimed, " O that 
I might live to speak the praise of so excellent a 
man !" 

The night before his execution, Andre, with pen 
and ink, drew a likeness of himself, which he after- 
wards presented to the officer of the guard. The 
original sketch is still preserved in the College Li- 
brary at New Haven. 



130 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 




The above engraving, with the facsimile of his 
handwriting, was copied from a picture taken in 
London just before he left for America. On the 
morning of the 2d of October Andre dressed him- 
self with great care in his uniform. While his col- 
ored servant was arranging his hair for the last time 
his grief overcame him and he burst into tears. 
His master turned and said kindly, " Don't be a 
child, Peter." Seeing it was nearly time to leave 
the house, Andre said to his guards, " Gentlemen, I 
am ready." The fatal hour arrived, and he walked 
arm in arm with two officers to the place of execu- 
tion He shuddered when he came within sight of 
the gallows, for he did not know until that time 
that he was to be hung. He said, " I am reconciled 






ANDRE, THE SPY. 13 1 

to death, but I detest the mode." He stepped firmly 
into the wagon used as a scaffold, saying, " It will 
be but a momentary pang." He then took two 
white handkerchiefs from his pocket ; with one he 
bandaged his eyes and passed the w other to an offi- 
cer who loosely bound his hands. Permission was 
then given him to address the crowd if he desired. 
He raised the bandage and said with calmness, " I 
pray you to bear witness to the world that I die like 
a brave man." He then placed the noose about his 
neck, the wagon was withdrawn, and in a few sec- 
onds he expired. Major Andre was thirty-one 
years of age at the time of his execution. Many 
tears were shed by friends and foes — all mourning 
his untimely death. His body was buried in a 
plain coffin at the foot of the gallows, where it re- 
mained until the year 1821, when it was carried to 
England and placed near the monument in West- 
minister Abbey, which years before had been 
erected by the king in his memory. Andre left a 
mother and two sisters in England, who in his let- 
ter to Gen. Clinton he mentioned with great af- 
fection, and committed them to his care. 

The three militiamen who could not be bought, 
each received from Congress a pension of two hun- 
dred dollars and a silver medal, on one side of 
which was a shield with the word " Fidelity" in- 
scribed upon it, and on the other side the motto, 
" Vincit amor patriae" — the love of country con- 
quers. 



132 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



XVIII, 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 

Seventy years before the Independence of the 
United States was declared, Benjamin Franklin was 
born in Boston. He was the youngest son of the 
youngest son for five generations back. His father, 
seeing his great love for books, was anxious to edu- 
cate him for the ministry, but the wants of his nu- 
merous family obliged him to give up the idea, and 
at ten years of age Franklin was taken from school, 
where he was making rapid progress, to assist his 
father in his business of soap and candle-making. 
When he was twelve years old he was appren- 
ticed to his brother, who had just returned from 
England with press and types to establish a print- 
ing office in Boston. This work was better suited 
to his tastes. He spent his time in the evening in 
reading what he had printed during the day. He 
boarded himself and lived in a very plain manner, 
so as to save every cent possible for the purchase 
of books. He would read them carefully, take 
notes, and then sell or exchange the old books for 
others. Franklin, when an old man, said that one 
small volume which he read at this time, entitled 
" Essays to do Good," written by Dr. Mather, was 
the means of influencing his whole life, and what- 
ever act of his which had been for the benefit of 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 133 

mankind could be indirectly traced to that little 
book. At school he disliked arithmetic and neg- 
lected it. He was soon led to see how necessary it 
was that he should understand it, so he purchased 
one and mastered it in one winter. In order to im- 
prove his style in writing, he read the essays of 
Addison, laid them aside for a short time, and then 
wrote what he could remember in his own language 
and compared it with the original. In this way he 
educated himself, and in after years he was noted 
for his power in expressing his thoughts. 

In the year 1720 his brother began to print a 
new public paper called " The New England Cou- 
rant." At this time there was but one newspaper 
printed in this country, and that was " The Boston 
News Letter." Many of his friends tried to dissuade 
him, for they said he would certainly fail, for one 
newspaper was sufficient for America. Franklin 
wrote short essays for this paper without letting his 
brother know of it, and he was very much pleased 
to hear persons who visited the office speak in 
praise of them. At last his brother discovered that 
he was the author, and treated him with more re- 
spect and kindness than he had ever before shown. 

Some difficulty arising between the state officers 
and the editor of the paper, Franklin decided to 
leave his brother's office and seek employment else- 
where. With a friend named Collins he went on 
board a sloop for New York, and in a few days 
found himself in that large city, with but little 
money and without friends who could assist him. 
He immediately started in search of work. An old 



134 H1ST0RICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

gentleman to whom he applied told him that he had 
a son in Philadelphia who wanted to hire a printer. 
Franklin embarked for that place in a poor vessel 
and was nearly wrecked. For thirty hours he went 
without any food, and all he had to drink was salt 
water or poor rum. At last he reached Amboy ; he 
walked from there to Burlington, where he found a 
boat in which he could go to Philadelphia if he 
would row when there was no wind. He arrived at 
Market-street wharf in that city about nine o'clock 
one Sabbath morning. His trunk, which was to 
come by sea, had not arrived. He was in his work- 
ing clothes, covered with dirt, his pockets filled 
with shirts and stockings, and what was worse, he 
was tired and very hungry. He was not acquainted 
with a person in the place, and knew not where to 
find rest or buy food. With one Dutch dollar in 
his pocket he started off up the street, looking 
eagerly on both sides until he met a child with a 
loaf of bread. Franklin asked him where he bought 
it, then started directly for the shop pointed out, 
and asked for some biscuits, expecting to find some 
like those made in Boston. The baker told him 
they made none of that kind in Philadelphia. He 
then inquired for a three-penny loaf, and was told 
they made no loaves of that price. Finding him- 
self ignorant of the different kinds of bread he told 
the man to give him three-penny-worth of bread of 
some kind or other— and was surprised at receiving 
three large rolls. There was no spare room in his 
pockets, so placing a roll under each arm and eat- 
ing the third, he walked up the street. He passed 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 135 

the house of a Mr. Read, whose daughter stood 
upon the steps, and who, after she became his wife, 
said in recalling the scene that he presented a most 
ludicrous appearance. He returned to the boat, 
and being satisfied with one roll he gave the others 
to a woman and child on board who were hungry. 
Franklin feeling refreshed, now started out again 
and followed a well-dressed crowd to a Quaker 
meeting house. He entered and soon fell into a 
sound sleep, from which he did not awake until the 
congregation dispersed and one of the members 
spoke to him about leaving. The next morning, as 
soon as he could put himself in decent trim, he 
started for the printer, who said that he had just 
employed a journeyman, but told him of a man 
named Keimer who had recently arrived in town 
and would perhaps employ him. The new printer, 
after asking a few questions and testing his work, 
engaged him, and Franklin secured lodgings at the 
house of Mr. Read. His trunk had arrived in the 
meantime, and he tried to make a much more 
creditable appearance than when he first entered 
the city. 

Sir William Keith was at this time governor of 
the province. Seeing a letter written by Franklin 
to his brother-in-law, he was surprised to learn his 
age, and thought he possessed superior talents. He 
also said that there were none but ignorant printers 
in Philadelphia, and he had not the least doubt of 
his success if he would set up for himself. He 
paid Franklin a great deal of attention, often asking 
him to dine with him. He finally persuaded him 



I36 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

to go to Boston and see if he could not obtain help 
from his father to go into business, and he sent with 
him a letter of recommendation. Franklin's father 
was a man of good common sense, and he told his 
son that he was too young to be entrusted with af- 
fairs of importance. He must first earn the money 
and acquire more knowledge of the world. This 
advice did not suit the ambitious young man nor 
the nattering governor, who decided to fit him out 
at his own expense, and proposed to Franklin to go 
to England and purchase the press and type, and 
he would give him letters of credit to his friends. 
In a few months he sailed, supposing the important 
letters were on board, as Governor Keith had prom- 
ised to send them directly to the vessel. Great 
was the surprise of Franklin to find when the mail 
bag was opened not a single letter directed to his 
name. He feared that he had been deceived with fair 
promises, and related the whole affair to an acquaint- 
ance, who laughed at him for trusting Governor 
Keith, and said he could not give letters of credit, 
for he had no credit himself. All that remained for 
Franklin to do was to seek employment, which he 
soon found in a noted printing house in London. 
There were about fifty workmen in the building, all 
of whom were in the habit of drinking beer ; as 
Franklin would take nothing stronger than water 
they called him the American Aquatic. He tried 
to induce them to leave off drinking, but they said 
they must have it in order to acquire strength for 
work. So Franklin would occasionally carry a 
large form of letters in each hand up and down 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 1 37 

stairs when the rest of the workmen used both 
hands to carry one. In time he prevailed upon 
some of them to give up their dram. 

Franklin made on shipboard the acquaintance of 
a merchant by the name of Denham, who was of 
great service to him. This man had failed in busi- 
ness in Bristol, England, and had settled with those 
he owed for a small sum. He came to America, and 
by close attention to business he made considerable 
money. He returned to England on the same ves- 
sel with Franklin, and on his arrival invited all of 
his old creditors to a feast 1 ? and each found under 
his plate a draft upon the bank for the remainder of 
the debt with interest. This honest gentleman was 
about to return to Pennsylvania, and prevailed upon 
Franklin to accompany him and assist him in his 
business. They sailed on the 23d of July, 1726, 
and landed at Philadelphia on the nth of October. 
For several months the two friends were very happy, 
they ate and lodged at the same place, and were 
seldom seen apart until both were taken very sick, 
and Mr. Denham died of a fever. Franklin almost 
regretted his own restoration to health after he heard 
of the death of his friend. Still he continued to 
gain strength, and he decided to return to printing. 

One day on the street he met his old employer, 
Keimer, who engaged him to take charge of his 
office with the promise of large wages. Franklin 
now found the knowledge he had gained in Lon- 
don of great service to him, and soon he had every- 
thing in good working order. Then the owner 
wished to rid himself of so expensive a hand, and 



I38 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

treated him with such disrespect that he left the es- 
tablishment. With a fellow journeyman Franklin 
now started in business for himself. He dressed 
plainly, worked early and late, and did his work so 
well that business men were willing to trust and 
assist him. He published a paper which became 
very popular with the common classes, and soon 
attracted the attention of the members of the leg- 
islature, for he always advocated the rights of the 
people. 

About this time, Franklin, with several young 
men of his acquaintance, formed a club or debating 
society, called the Junto. They met one evening 
every week to improve their minds. Every mem- 
ber in his turn was obliged to propose a question 
on some point of morality, politics, or philosophy, 
and once in three months present an essay of his 
own composition. The questions were given out 
one week before they were discussed, and all spare 
time was spent in reading works upon that subject. 
The debates were not conducted for mere discus- 
sion, but with a sincere desire for truth. One year 
they brought all their books to the club room, so that 
each member could have the benefit of the others. 
This led Franklin to think of the public library 
which he started in Philadelphia in the year 1731, 
with a few volumes. It has continued to increase 
until now it is one of the best in the country. 

Before Franklin left for England he made pro- 
fessions of attachment and promises of fidelity to 
Miss Read, but by degrees they were forgotten, and 
during his absence he wrote but one letter, and that 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1 39 

merely to inform her that he was not likely to re- 
turn. On his arrival in Philadelphia he heard that 
by the urgent advice of her parents she had mar- 
ried a man by the name of Rogers, who was a good 
workman but a worthless character — from whom 
she soon separated, and did not even bear his name, 
for it was reported he had another wife living in 
England. After Franklin commenced business fcr 
himself he had some dealing with Mr. Read and 
was an occasional visitor at his house. The mu- 
tual affection revived, and on the first of Septem- 
ber, 1730, he was married to Miss Read. He 
said, " She proved to me a good and faithful com- 
panion, and contributed essentially to the success 
of my shop. We prospered together, and it was 
our mutual study to render each other happy. Thus 
I corrected as well as I could the great error of my 
youth." 

Two years after his marriage he began to publish 
" Poor Richard's Almanack," which was remarkable 
for the maxims it contained of industry, integrity, 
and economy. He continued to print it for twenty- 
five years, and the demand for it was so great that 
sometimes ten thousand copies were sold in one 
year. In the almanac of the last year he collected, 
all these proverbs into an address to the reader, 
called " The Way to Wealth." This has been 
translated into several languages. 

In 1736 Franklin entered political life. He was 
elected to the office of clerk in the general assembly, 
and the next year to the more desirable one of 
postmaster of Philadelphia. He now had the means 



140 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

and leisure to accomplish more than he had done for 
the benefit of humanity. In one of his first letters 
to his mother he wrote, " I would rather have it said 
of your son that he lived usefully than that he died 
rich," and now he proved the truth of his assertion. 
He organized the first fire company in the city, and 
suggested the plan of association in insuring houses 
against losses by fire. He was one of the founders 
of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and labored to estab- 
lish a more thorough system of education in the 
state. He invented an open stove which bore his 
name, and refused to obtain a patent, for he wished 
it to benefit mankind. Large numbers were sold, 
and in some houses in the country they can be seen 
at the present day. 

Franklin now turned his attention to electricity, 
and read all he could find printed upon that subject. 
Some German philosophers, with large apparatus, 
had been able to collect a sufficient quantity to kill 
birds and set spirits on fire. An account of these 
experiments was sent to Philadelphia, with a tube 
and directions for use. Franklin and his friends 
soon made some important discoveries. He claimed 
that lightning and electricity were the same, and 
conceived the bold idea of proving the truth of his 
theory by drawing down the lightning from the 
clouds by means of a sharp iron rod raised into that 
region. He was waiting for the erection of a tower 
on which to t^ry his experiment, when it occurred 
to him that he might reach the clouds in an easier 
way by means of a common kite. He made one by 
attaching two cross sticks to a silk handkerchief, 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. I4I 

and fixed an iron point on the upright stick. The 
string was of hemp except the lower end, which was 
of silk. Where the hemp string ended a key was 
fastened. It was in the summer of 1752 that 
Franklin, seeing a thunder shower approaching, took 
his kite, and in company with his son, the only one 
who knew of his intentions, he went out to the com- 
mons and raised it. He stepped under a shed to 
avoid the rain just as the thunder cloud passed over 
the kite, but at first no sign of electricity appeared ; 
soon however he saw the fibers of the hemp string 
begin to stand erect. He touched his knuckles to the 
key and received a shock. He drew repeated sparks 
from the key, charged a vial, and made all the ex- 
periments usually performed by electricity. Great 
was his joy at his success. When the news of 
Franklin's discovery reached Europe some tried to 
detract from its merit. The very idea that an un- 
educated American should make discoveries which 
had escaped the attention of the wise men in France 
and Germany! Impossible. Truth however pre- 
vailed, and the universities of those countries after- 
wards bestowed many honors on the American 
philosopher. 

At the beginning of the troubles between this 
country and England, Franklin labored long and 
earnestly to prevent war. He was for many years 
a member of the assembly, and his short, plain 
speeches on the side of right often silenced more 
eloquent speakers in favor of oppression. He once 
wrote a plan of union which appears to have aimed 
between the interests of both the English and Amer- 



142 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

icans. It did not suit either. It was not liked in 
Great Britain because it gave too much power to 
the colonists, and it did not suit the people here, for 
they thought it gave too much power to the crown. 

Franklin visited England several times on im- 
portant business for the colonial government. He 
was there when the stamp act was passed, and he 
used all his influence to prevent it. Then he found 
that war was inevitable. He was insulted by the 
members of the privy council, and when he took 
off the' suit of clothes worn on that occasion he 
said he would never wear them again until he had 
signed "England's degradation and America's in- 
dependence." He waited ten years for the oppor- 
tunity — but it came on the third of September, 
1783, when in the same suit he signed the treaty of 
peace ! 

At the time of the war Dr. Franklin was selected 
as the most suitable person to represent the cause 
of the colonists in France. He thought at first 
that he was too far advanced in years, but was will- 
ing to assist his country in any possible way. On 
his arrival in Paris he received many flattering at- 
tentions from both statesmen and philosophers. 
Mr. Jefferson, his successor, wrote to a friend, "There 
appeared to me more respect and veneration at- 
tached to the character of Dr. Franklin in France 
than to that of any other person in the same 
country, foreign or native." 

In the fall of 1785 Dr. Franklin returned to 
Philadelphia and expressed a wish to retire from 
public life, but the people would not allow it, and 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 1 43 

he was elected governor of the state. In a few 
years his health failed and he was obliged to with- 
draw from active service. The numerous societies 
in the city of which he was the president used to 
hold their meetings at his house, so as to have the 
benefit of his advice when he was unable to go out 
to attend them. Even after he was confined to his 
bed his mind remained clear and active. Franklin 
died on the seventeenth of April, 1790, aged eighty- 
four years and three months. The news of his 
death caused sincere grief throughout the country. 
Congress directed a universal mourning in the 
United States for thirty days. Eloquent eulogies 
upon his character were written and spoken not 
only in his native land, but in England, Germany, 
and France. To a friend, who once alluded to his 
numerous political enemies, Dr. Franklin replied — 
" I thank God there are not in the whole world any 
who are my enemies as a man ; for by His grace, 
through a long life I have been enabled so to con- 
duct myself that there does not exist a human be- 
ing who can justly say, Ben. Franklin has wronged 
me." 



144 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



XIX. 

INDEPENDENCE. 

It has been truly said, " The independence of 
America was found by those who sought it not." 
The early settlers of this country loved England, 
they spoke of it as home and the mother country, 
.and for many years they had not the least thought 
of forming an independent government. 

In the year 1692 a new charter was granted to 
the colony in Massachusetts, which was less favor- 
able to liberty than the old one. The appointment 
of the governor, lieutenant-governor, and other im- 
portant officers, was taken from the colonists and 
was vested in the crown. The people suffered 
much in consequence from the insolence of royal 
officers and the restraints upon trade, still the ma- 
jority of them tried to secure the favor of those in 
power. One Edward Randolph, who was sent here 
by Charles II., used to brag about his evil doings. 
He said that he crossed the Atlantic sixteen times in 
nine years to destroy the liberties of New England. 

Until the year 1764 the colonists had laid their 
own taxes. At that time the members of parliament 
passed an act by which duties were laid on sugar, 
indigo, coffee, and other articles imported from such 
West-India islands as did not belong to Great Brit- 
ain. Though the people felt that it was unjust, 



INDEPENDENCE. 145 

they would probably never have made war if they 
had been allowed to send a representative to parlia- 
ment to plead their cause. In the year 1765, the 
stamp act was passed. This obliged the people 
to purchase stamps of the government for all im- 
portant writings, such as notes, bonds, contracts, 
&c, and all papers not containing one were to be 
considered worthless. This odious act roused the 
anger of the people, and they determined to resist 
it. When the news reached Virginia the house of 
burgesses was in session. A talented young lawyer 
named Patrick Henry made an eloquent and stir- 
ring speech, which awakened a spirit of resistance in 
the breast of nearly every person who heard or read 
it. The first of November, the day on which the 
stamp act was to take effect, was ushered in by the 
tolling of bells, and signs of mourning and sorrow 
were everywhere to be seen among the colonies. 
In Portsmouth they had a coffin # made, with the 
word Liberty engraved on the plate in large letters. 
They had a funeral address, in which a great deal 
was said in praise of the deceased. It was then fol- 
lowed to the grave by a crowd of people, while the 
minute guns were fired and the bells all tolled. 
Similar scenes occurred in other places. The peo- 
ple broke open the houses of the crown officers and 
would not allow the stamps to be landed. They 
also decided not to import any goods until this odi- 
ous act was repealed. The cause of the colonists 
was ably advocated in England by Mr. Pitt and 
other eminent statesmen. Lord Camden, in an ad- 
dress to the house of lords said, " Taxation and 

7 



I46 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

representation are inseparable, it is an eternal law 
of nature, for whatever is a man's own is absolutely 
his own, no man has a right to take it from him 
without his consent. Whoever attempts to do it 
attempts an injury ; whoever does it commits a 
robbery." So the stamp act was repealed. 

At the same time parliament passed another act, 
claiming they had the right to bind the colonies in 
all cases whatsoever. In June, 1767, a duty was 
imposed on tea, paper, glass, and painters' colors. 
In order to enforce this act a custom house was 
established in Boston, and in September, 1768, 
two British regiments arrived there. The women, 
as well as men, denied themselves every luxury, 
and finally every tax was repealed excepting the 
one on tea. The presence of the soldiers to this 
high-spirited people was a great annoyance. They 
had nothing to do and were continually quarreling 
with some of the citizens. On the 5th of March, 
1770, an affray took place between some of the 
troops and the inhabitants of Boston, in which 
three of the latter were killed. This was called 
" The Boston Massacre." 

A story is told of the boys, which occurred about 
this time. They were in the habit of building large 
hills of snow on the Common and sliding from 
them on to the pond. The British soldiers would 
go and beat them down. They complained to the 
captain and he made sport of them. At last they 
called a meeting of the largest boys and sent them 
to Gen. Gage, the commander-in-chief. He re- 
ceived them kindly and asked what they wanted. 



INDEPENDENCE. 147 

" We came, sir," said the largest boy, " to demand 
satisfaction." " What," said the general, " have 
your fathers been teaching you rebellion and sent 
you to show it here ?" " Nobody sent us, sir," 
answered the boy; "we have never injured your 
troops, but they have trodden down our snow hills 
and broken the ice on our skating grounds. We 
complained and they called us young rebels, and 
told us to help ourselves if we could. We told the 
captain of this, and he laughed at us. Yester- 
'day our works were destroyed for the third time, 
and, sir, we will stand it no longer." Gen. Gage 
listened attentively while the boy was speaking, 
then turned to an officer at his side and said, " The 
very children draw in a love of liberty with the air 
they breathe." He then said to the group of children, 
" You may go, my brave boys, and be assured if my 
troops trouble you again they shall be punished." 
In a short time the merchants began to trade as 
usual, but no tea was brought. The East-India 
company soon had seventeen million pounds on 
hand. They sent loaded ships to Charleston, Phil- 
adelphia, New York, and Boston. The people were 
determined it should not be landed or sold. In 
Charleston it was stored in damp cellars and spoiled. 
In Philadelphia some boxes were destroyed and the 
rest remained in the vessels ; but in Boston, as it 
was sent to the friends of the royal governor, Hutch- 
inson, the citizens feared it would be sold, and 
requested the governor to send it back to England, 
as had been done in New York. This he refused 
to do. So one night a number of persons, disguised 



143 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

like Indians, went on board the vessels and threw 
three hundred and forty-two chests of tea into the 
harbor. In March, 1774, a message containing an 
account of the tea party was sent to parliament. 
Many of the members were very angry, and in the 
spirit of revenge against Massachusetts, and partic- 
ularly against Boston, a bill was passed which or- 
dered them to restore the value of the tea, and for- 
bid any goods being landed there until this was 
done. This act was called " The Boston Port Bill." 

The government was soon removed to Salem. 
Numerous presents were sent from all over the 
country to the citizens of Boston with many expres- 
sions of sympathy. On the 4th of September, 
1 774, deputies from eleven of the colonies met at 
Philadelphia, and having formed themselves into a 
congress, elected Peyton Randolph of Virginia 
President. This body was composed of fifty-five 
members, most of whom were men of splendid tal- 
ents and stern patriotism, and is generally known 
by the name of the Continental Congress. They 
sent a letter to Gen. Gage urging him to desist 
from all military operations, lest differences which 
could not be settled should arise between the colo- 
nies and the British government. 

In April, 1775, Gen. Gage sent a body of troops 
to Concord to seize the military stores belong- 
ing to the Americans. He was very quiet about 
it, and did not intend the people should hear of 
it until the soldiers arrived in town. In some 
way it was discovered, and though his troops 
marched in the night, very early in the morning on 



INDEPENDENCE. J 49 

the 19th of April, 1775, as they passed through 
Lexington they found about seventy men under 
arms stationed on the green, awaiting their arrival. 
The British officer, Major Pitcairn, rode up to them 
and cried with a loud voice, " Disperse, disperse, 
you rebels, throw down your arms and disperse." 
His orders not being obeyed he ordered his men to 
fire upon them. Eight Americans were killed and 
several wounded. 

The news of this battle spread like wildfire 
through the country. The people were now thor- 
oughly awake. Everywhere the cry was repeated, 
" War has begun !" and the response was, " To arms, 
then — liberty or death ! " An army of twenty thou- 
sand men was soon collected from the vicinity of 
Boston, and the next week Gen. Putnam arrived 
with more soldiers from Connecticut. Every effort 
was made to secure military stores. Gen. Gage 
was now so closely besieged in Boston, his pro- 
visions became scarce. It was in May of this year 
that Colonels Allen, Arnold, and Warner captured 
the forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, on the 
western shore of Lake Champlain. 

On the tenth of May the Continental Congress 
again assembled at Philadelphia, and John Hancock 
of Massachusetts was chosen president. Among 
other measures they voted to raise an army of twenty 
thousand men, and appointed George Washington, 
a young officer who had distinguished himself in 
the French and Indian war, commander-in-chief. 
He took command of the army at Cambridge the 
third of July, 1775. The Americans were deter- 



150 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

mined if possible to drive the British troops from 
Boston ; to accomplish this purpose they sent Col. 
Prescott with a thousand men to throw up a breast- 
work on Bunker Hill, in Charlestown. They worked 
so silently and rapidly, in one night they made a 
redoubt eight rods square. At daylight, when the 
British discovered them, they fired from their ves- 
sels and from the height in Boston, still the soldiers 
kept to work all the forenoon and lost but one man. 
On the seventeenth of June Gen. Howe, with an 
army of three thousand British troops, marched to 
make an attack upon the works. The American 
soldiers, urged forward by such brave officers as 
Gen. Putnam, Warren, and others, were eager 
for a battle. They reserved their fire until the 
forces of the enemy were very near to the breast- 
work, then taking a steady aim and standing on 
higher ground, they poured upon the British a deadly 
fire. They fell by hundreds ; whole ranks were 
swept away. Twice the British retreated towards 
the shore. The officers rallied the soldiers, and 
with some fresh troops commenced the third attack, 
and then from the failure of ammunition the Amer- 
icans were obliged to retreat. The loss of the En- 
glish amounted to one thousand and fifty-four killed 
and wounded ; that of the Americans to four hun- 
dred and fifty-three, and among their killed was the 
lamented Gen. Warren and other brave officers. 
The British set fire to Charlestown at the time of 
this battle, and several hundred houses were burned. 
While hostilities were going on at the north, Lord 
Dunmore had taken the military stores at Norfolk, 



INDEPENDENCE. I5I 

Virginia, but was driven back and a pestilence de- 
stroyed many of his men. The royal governors in 
North and South Carolina were expelled by the 
people. In October, 1775, Gen. Gage left for En- 
gland, and Gen. William Howe was appointed com- 
mander of the British army in America. During 
the winter Gen. Washington made up his mind to 
make another effort to drive the enemy from Boston. 
He placed a battery on Dorchester Heights, where 
he could fire upon the vessels in the harbor as well 
as upon the town. The day that Gen. Howe ex- 
pected to attack the works there was a terrible 
storm, and soon they were made so strong it was 
useless. So all that was left for him to do was 
to quit the city. Gen. Washington entered Bos- 
ton in great triumph on the 17th of March, 1776. 
In June there was an attack made by the British 
at Charleston, South Carolina, but Col. Moultrie 
obliged them to retreat, and in honor of his bravery 
the fort has since been called by his name. 

The Continental Congress was now in session, 
and Richard Henry Lee, the member from Virginia, 
made a motion, which he supported with an eloquent 
speech, that the colonies declare themselves/;'^ and 
independent. A committee, consisting of Thomas 1 
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger 
Sherman, and Philip Livingston, was appointed to 
prepare a declaration of independence, which was 
accepted by Congress on the 4th of July, 1 Jj6. The 
majority of the people hailed this act with joy, and 
by the ringing of bells and bonfires on the hilltops 
the news spread swiftly throughout the land. In New 



152 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

York there was a statue of George III. made of lead ; 
it was taken to pieces and used for musket balls. 

The days of trial and suffering were now at hand. 
There were still some persons who favored the roy- 
alists ; they were called tories, and they often acted 
as spies for the British officers. After Gen. Howe 
left Boston he went to Halifax, where he remained 
two months, and then started for New York. Gen. 
Washington had anticipated this move and had sent 
soldiers there to defend it. The British troops 
numbered three thousand, well disciplined and 
every want supplied. The American soldiers only 
numbered twelve hundred, and many of them knew 
nothing of a military life, but they fought well. The 
British conquered, and Fort Washington on the 
Hudson was captured with twenty-eight hundred 
men. Gen. Washington seeing he could not defend 
himself in New York, under the cover of a thick 
fog, wisely retreated ; thus the control of Long 
Island and New York city passed into the hands 
of the British, where it remained during the war. 

It was soon after the retreat that Gen. Washing- 
ton, wishing to secure some knowledge of the move- 
ments of the enemy, advised Capt. Nathan Hale, a 
promising young officer, to go to Long Island as a 
spy. Disguised as a schoolmaster he passed from 
one fort to another and obtained all the desired in- 
formation. On his return he was captured by some 
tories and taken before Gen. Howe. Without even 
a form of trial he was sentenced to be executed the 
next morning. Not the least comfort was granted him 
and he was denied even a Bible. In a most heartless 



INDEPENDENCE. 153 

manner he was conducted to the place of execution. 
On the scaffold he uttered the memorable words, 
" I regret that I have but one life to give for my 
country." In December, 1776, Gen. Washington 
crossed the Delaware river at Trenton and captured 
nine hundred prisoners. This act encouraged the 
people. 

A very sad incident occurred in the month of 
August, 1777. It was the murder of Miss Jane 
McCrea. Her father was a minister in New Jersey 
and died before the war, and she resided with her 
brother, Col. McCrea of Albany. She was engaged 
to marry a Capt. David Jones, who was a British offi- 
cer. Miss McCrea was on a visit to a friend who 
lived not far from Fort Edward. Ore Sabbrth 
morning some Indians came to the house, and in 
their fright the inmates rushed to the cellar to se- 
crete themselves, but the savages dragged them out 
and obliged them to go with them in the direction 
of the British camp, for a reward was then offered 
for every captive. The two Indians who had Miss 
McCrea in charge soon met another party, and as 
some difficulty arose between them about the reward, 
they struck her with a tomahawk, tore off her scalp 
and carried it to the British army. Various ac- 
counts of the thrilling story spread through the 
country and the people were enraged. Gen. Gates 
wrote a letter to Gen. Burgoyne and demanded an 
explanation. The British officer indignantly denied 
having anything to do with the affair. The Indians 
claimed afterwards that she was shot by a party 
who fired at them, and they scalped her so as not 



154 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 




AN INDIAN ATTACK. 



INDEPENDENCE. 1 55 

to lose the whole reward. Her body was buried 
about three miles from Fort Edward. She was a 
very amiable and accomplished young lady and 
highly esteemed by all her acquaintances. When 
her lover heard of her death he was almost frantic 
with grief; he resigned his office in the army and 
went to Canada. He was ever after subject to fits 
of melancholy. On the anniversary of the sad day 
he would shut himself in his room and neither eat 
nor speak. At last he died of a broken heart. 

On the 7th of October, 1777, an important battle 
was fought near Saratoga, and the British general, 
Burgoyne, was obliged to surrender. This victory 
led the French nation to acknowledge the independ- 
ence of the colonies, and they soon sent ships and 
troops to assist them. The British now sought to 
bring about a reconciliation. But it was too late. 
The members of Congress would not listen to any 
proposal which did not grant perfect freedom to the 
thirteen states they represented. They next tried 
bribing some of the members. One man named 
Joseph Reed, to whom they made an offer, answered, 
" I am not worth purchasing ; but poor as I am, 
your king has not money enough to buy me." 

In the year 1778 Gen. Howe left for England, 
and Gen. Clinton took his place. In 1780 Charles- 
ton in South Carolina was taken by the British 
after a brave defense under Gen. Lincoln. In Au- 
gust of the same year Gen. Gates was removed by 
Congress from the southern department and Gen. 
Greene appointed in his place. 

In the summer of 1781 Gen. Washington, who 



156 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

had been threatening the British army in New York, 
now moved rapidly to the south, and^when Gen. 
Clinton supposed he was on his way to Staten 
Island, he had crossed the Delaware river. A French 
fleet under Count de Grasse arrived in September 
and blockaded the James and York rivers, thus cut- 
ting off all aid from New York to the British army 
under Gen. Cornwallis at Yorktown. Gen. Wash- 
ington continued his march with sixteen thousand 
soldiers, seven thousand of whom were Frenchmen, 
and on the 6th of October they commenced their 
work at Yorktown. On the 14th two redoubts were 
taken, and Gen. Cornwallis, being discouraged at 
not receiving aid, made an effort to escape. A vio- 
lent storm arose and he was obliged to return to his 
fortifications, which were almost destroyed by con- 
stant firing. On the 19th of October, 1781, Gen. 
Cornwallis surrendered. As the troops- were about 
to march out and lay down their arms, Gen. Wash- 
ington said to his soldiers, " My boys, let there be 
no exultation over a conquered foe. When they lay 
down their arms don't huzza — posterity will huzza 
for you ! " This victory filled the country with such 
rejoicing as had never before been known. Gen. 
Washington ordered divine service throughout the 
army. All hearts united in thanksgiving to God, 
for it was expected that the great struggle for inde- 
pendence was ended. For more than seven years 
the war had continued — numerous battles had been 
fought both at the north and south — great suf- 
fering had been endured and hundreds of valuable 
lives had been sacrificed— still the people had per- 



INDEPENDENCE. 157 

severed in the hope of securing the blessing of a 
free government The king and parliament found 
it was useless to try longer to conquer the Ameri- 
cans. In September, 1783, the treaty of peace was 
signed, and in November the army was disbanded 
by Congress. The British troops left New York 
on the 25 th of the same month. 

The officers and soldiers in the American army 
were very much attached to Gen. Washington, and 
some wished to form a monarchy with him for 
their king. When they wrote to him about it he 
replied, "that he viewed such ideas with abhor- 
rence and must reprehend them with severity." 
The parting between Gen. Washington and his 
soldiers and officers was an affecting scene. He ad- 
dressed them in these words, " With a heart full of 
love and gratitude I now take my leave of you. I 
most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as 
prosperous and happy as your former ones have 
been glorious and honorable." He then shook 
hands with each officer and bade him farewell. On 
the 23d of December Gen. Washington appeared 
before Congress, and in the presence of a crowd of 
spectators resigned his commission as commander- 
in-chief of the armies of the United States. A 
profound silence pervaded the assembly during all 
the exercises. Upon accepting his commission the 
members of Congress, through their president, ex- 
pressed in glowing language their high opinion of 
his wisdom and energy in conducting the war with 
such success, and invoked the choicest blessings on 
his future life. 



I58 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 



XX. 

LAFAYETTE. 

Gilbert Mottier, Marquis de LaFayette, was born 
in the province of Auvergne, in France, on the 6th 
of September, 1757. He was sent to a college in 
Paris before he was eight years old and received a 
liberal education. At the early age of seventeen 
he was married to a young lady who will long be re- 
membered for her courage, virtue, and affection. 
Young LaFayette, descending from an aristocratic 
family, possessing a large fortune, refined and pleas- 
ing in his manners, soon became a great favorite at 
court and had every inducement to lead a life of 
luxury and gayety. But LaFayette possessed a no- 
ble soul. He became very much interested in the 
struggle for freedom of the colonies in America, and 
made up his mind to go and assist them. His 
friends labored to dissuade him and strongly opposed 
his doing anything of the kind ; but LaFayette 
was not the young man to be turned aside by ridi- 
cule from his belief of what was right. He went 
to Dr. Franklin, then minister from the United 
States at Paris, and told him of his design. The 
patriotic man thanked him for his generous offer, 
but was obliged to tell him that his government was 
so poor they could not furnish him with a convey- 
ance in which to cross the ocean. Then said the 



LAFAYETTE. 1 59 

noble LaFayette, " This is the moment when I can 
render the most essential service. I will fit out a 
vessel myself." Unbeknown to his relatives he 
purchased one, and in April, 1777, with a few 
friends as brave as himself, he set sail for America. 
He landed in South Carolina, about sixty miles from 
Charleston, and was kindly entertained in the family 
of Major Huger. LaFayette then went to Phila- 
delphia, and with great modesty offered his services 
to Congress and asked to join the army as a volun- 
teer, and serve without pay. In the month of July 
he received the honorary rank of major-general 
without any direct command. It was not long be- 
fore he became acquainted with Gen. Washington, 
who not only received him into his family, but 
into his confidence and affection. LaFayette was 
just the character to call out the deep love of that 
strong, noble soul, and ever after he was to the 
father of this country an adopted son. 

In the month of August, 1777, Gen. Howe 
moved his army forward to take Philadelphia, and 
Gen. Washington set his soldiers in motion to 
prevent it. The armies met on the nth of Sep- 
tember at Brandywine. A battle was fought in 
which Gen. LaFayette shed his blood in the cause 
of liberty. His bravery and services at this time 
gave him a firm hold in the affections of the 
American people. He soon received the command 
of a division, and remained in the army until 1779, 
when he visited France in order to secure from the 
French government assistance to carry on the war. 
During LaFayette's stay in Paris, Dr. Franklin, in 



160 HISTORIC ALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS, 

the name of Congress, presented him with a hand- 
some sword curiously ornamented, as a token of 
its regard for his bravery. He succeeded in his 
mission, and the next year, with a large number of 
soldiers, he landed in Boston. 

In 1 78 1 Gen. LaFayette had the portion of the 
army in Virginia placed under his direct com- 
mand. He was anxious to capture the traitor 
Arnold, who was making depredations in that re- 
gion, but did not succeed, as the French fleet did 
not arrive at the expected time. As it was he drove 
; him from the state. Gen, LaFayette's army was now 
in a destitute condition, many of the soldiers were 
without shoes or comfortable clothes. They were 
out of money, so he advanced ten thousand dollars 
to provide for their wants. Nothing but the spirit of 
a true patriot could have induced him to have shared 
the sufferings of the American army at this time. 

. Gen. Cornwallis looked upon LaFayette with 
scorn, and in ridicule called him " a boy whom he 
would not let escape him." ' In October, 1782, he 
had reason to change his mind, for Gen. LaFay^ 
ette was in the memorable battle at Yorktown, and 
was one of the officers who, by his great general- 
ship and hard fighting, captured one of the redoubts 
in advance of the English mam works. When Gen. 
Cornwallis marched out his army as prisoners he 
probably had more respect for the " boy." 

As soon as the war was over Gen. LaFayette 
hastened to France After peace was declared he 
came to this country to assist in celebrating the 
fourth of July, 1784. Everywhere the people 



LAFAYETTE. l6l 

hailed him with joy, and during his stay his bust 
was presented to the city of Paris by the state of 
Virginia. His farewell address to Congress and his 
parting with Gen. Washington were the only sad 
acts which occurred during his visit in this country. 

After Gen. LaFayette returned to France he 
spent his time in laboring for the good of humanity. 
He favored reform, and was one of those who ap- 
proved of pulling down the Bastile, the noted prison 
for political offenders. He loved liberty, both civil 
and religious, but he did not approve of the course 
of the mob, and tried to protect the royal family 
from the fury of the populace. Every one felt 
that a sincerity of purpose actuated his conduct, 
and in the year 1790 he received the high appoint- 
ment of general-in-chief of the national guards. 
It was impossible for a man to remain long in office 
in those troublous times ; his troops were divided 
in feeling, and his judicious conduct led him to be 
looked upon with jealousy by royalists and republi- 
cans. Troubles increased on every side, some of 
his officers were guilty of treachery, and Gen. La- 
Fayette came near losing his life by assassination. 
He resigned and retired to one of his estates. The 
city of Paris offered to reward him for his losses, 
but he would not accept it. He was presented with 
a gold medal and a bust of Gen. Washington. 

When the war broke out between France and 
Austria Gen. LaFayette was appointed to a high 
office in the army. Trouble among the soldiers 
obliged him to fly for his life ; he was expecting to 
leave for America, when, with seventeen compan- 



l62 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

ions, he was captured by the Prussians. His 
troubles affected his health, and for many days his 
life was in danger. The friend of his youth, Mau- 
bourg, who was taken prisoner at the same time, 
was not allowed to see him. When Gen. LaFay- 
ette began to recover he was offered his freedom if 
he would give up his principles and draw up plans 
against France. This he indignantly refused to do, 
so he was taken with his friends and confined in 
the strong fortress at Magdeburg, on the banks of 
the Elbe. For one year, in those dark vaults, sur- 
rounded by thick stone walls, with doors secured by 
great iron bars, they remained prisoners. Still they 
had one source of pleasure, they could see one 
another for an hour each day, when they were al- 
lowed to walk upon the walls. Gen. LaFayette, 
with a few others, was removed to a damp prison at 
Neisse, and though his friend Maubourg plead ear- 
nestly to go, he was not allowed the privilege. In 
a short time all of the prisoners were delivered to 
the Austrians and confined in a strong fortress at 
Olmutz, one hundred miles northeast of Vienna. 
Here they were placed in separate dungeons. Eve- 
rything but their watches and buckles was taken 
from them for fear of their committing suicide. 
They were often told they would never be allowed 
to hear from their families nor receive any news 
from the outside world. Neither should they ever 
see anything but four stone walls. A number was 
given to each, so they should not have the pleasure 
of being called by name. Gen. LaFayette's health 
failed so rapidly under this close confinement, the 



LAFAYETTE. 1 63 

physician of the prison ordered exercise in the open 
air. He was allowed to ride, with an officer at his 
side, two armed men behind him, and a driver in 
front. Several plans of escape were formed by his 
friends, but all failed to accomplish the end. 

At this time his affectionate wife, who had made 
every possible effort to obtain her husband's free- 
dom, was confined in a dungeon in Paris, expecting 
daily to be executed. The death of Robespierre 
probably saved her life, but it was a long time be- 
fore she gained her liberty and the means to leave 
France. She obtained a passport under the name 
of Mottier, and as an American she traveled to Vi- 
enna without being suspected. There she pleaded so 
eloquently for the liberty of her husband, the Prince 
de Rosenburg became interested in her case, and 
secured for her permission to see the emperor, who 
said he could not promise to free her husband, but 
would grant her the privilege of sharing his 
captivity. With thankful hearts Gen. LaFayette's 
wife and two daughters hastened to that dismal 
prison. What could have been the feelings of the 
husband and father at the sight of those dearly- 
loved faces in his lonely cell ? At first he was filled 
with joy ; soon, however, he saw the effect of the 
poisonous air and rigorous treatment upon their 
health, and urged them to forsake him. This they 
refused to do, and for two years they shared his 
prison life, although his wife in conseouence was an 
invalid the remainder of her days. 

Five years after Gen. LaFayette and his party 
were captured, through the influence of Napoleon 



164 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

Bonaparte they were set at liberty. In September, 
1797, the prison doors were opened and the pale 
prisoners looked upon the faces of their compan- 
ions, who had been confined in the same division 
of the prison for three years and a half without see- 
ing each other's faces or knowing their fate. Mad- 
ame LaFayette went directly to France, and soon 
obtained permission for her husband to dwell there. 
Gen. LaFayette was treated kindly by Gen. Bona- 
parte, who offered him his protection, but he would 
not accept of it, for he loved the cause of liberty, and 
was anxious for France to be a republic like America, 
and was opposed to Bonaparte's plan of an empire. 

He therefore went to Hamburg, where he re- 
mained a few years devoting his time to agriculture. 
After the defeat of the French at the battle of 
Waterloo, LaFayette appeared in the legislature at 
Paris and raised the old tri-colored flag with the ex- 
clamation, " Liberty, equality, and public order." 
Again he labored to establish a republican form of 
government, but all in vain ; the mass of the peo- 
ple were not sufficiently educated to sustain it. 
When the Bourbon family was restored to power, 
Gen. LaFayette left Paris and spent his time in his 
pleasant home at LaGrange. 

On the 22d of February, 18 18, the Americans in 
France celebrated the birthday of Washington. 
Gen. LaFayette was present at the meeting and paid 
an eloquent tribute to the brave soldiers who had 
fallen fighting for independence in both America 
and France. When Gen. LaFayette was sixty-seven 
years of age he expressed a wish to again visit the 



LAFAYETTE. 1 65 

United States. As soon as his purpose became 
known Mr. James Monroe, the president, wrote him 
a letter extending him a cordial invitation to come 
and be the guest of the nation. Congress placed a 
national vessel at his disposal, but he declined it, 
and in company with his secretary and his son 
George Washington, he went to Havre and took 
passage in the Cadmus, a merchantman. They 
sailed July 12, 1824, and after a voyage of thirty- 
four days arrived in New York. As he entered the 
bay he was welcomed by a crowd of vessels deco- 
rated with numberless American and French flags, 
blending the stars and stripes with the colors of his 
native land. The bands on board the fleet which 
escorted his vessel from Staten Island played the 
French air, " Where can one better be, than in the 
bosom of his family ? " 

Nothing could be more expressive than the de- 
scription of LaFayette's reception by Headley, the 
historian: "As he touched the shore the thunder 
of cannon shook the city, old soldiers rushed weep- 
ing into his arms, and, ' Welcome, LaFayette,' waved 
from every banner, rung from every trumpet, and 
was caught up by every voice, till ' Welcome, wel- 
come,' rose and fell in deafening shouts from the 
assembled thousands. During the four days he 
remained in the city it was one constant jubilee; 
and when he left for Boston, all along his route the 
people rose to welcome him. He traveled every 
night till twelve o'clock, and watchfires were kept 
burning on the hilltops along his line of progress, 
Blazing through the darkness they outshone the 



1 66 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

torches that heralded him, while in the distance 
the pealing bells from every church spire announced 
his coming. The same enthusiastic joy awaited him 
at Boston, and when he returned to New York the 
city was wilder than ever with excitement. In 
Castle Garden there was a splendid illumination in 
honor of him — the bridge leading to it was sur- 
mounted by a pyramid sixty feet high, with a blazing 
star at the top, from the center of which flashed the 
name of LaFayette. The planks were covered with 
carpets, and trees and flowers innumerable lined the 
passage. Over the entrance was a triumphal arch 
of flowers — huge columns arose from the area, sup- 
porting arches of flowers, and flags, and statues. As 
he entered this wilderness of beauty the bands 
struck up, ' See, the conquering hero comes/ and 
shouts shook the edifice to its foundation. He had 
scarcely taken his seat in the splendid marque pre- 
pared for his reception when the curtain before the 
gallery, in front of him, lifted — and there was a 
beautiful transparency representing LaGrange, with 
its grounds and towers, and beneath it, f This 
is his home.' Nothing could be more touching and 
affectionate than this device, and as LaFayette's eye 
fell upon it a tear was seen to gather there, and his 
lip to quiver with feeling. Thus the people received 
the ' people's friend.' From New York he went to 
Albany and Troy, and one long shout of welcome 
rolled the length of the Hudson as he floated up the 
noble stream. After visiting other cities and receiv- 
ing similar demonstrations of gratitude, he turned his 
steps toward Mount Vernon, to visit the tomb of 



LAFAYETTE. l6j 

Washington. The thunder of cannon announced his 
arrival at the consecrated ground, calling to his mind 
the time when he had seen that now lifeless chieftain 
move through the tumult of battle. Wishing no 
one to witness his emotions as he stood beside the 
ashes of his friend, he descended alone into the 
vault. With trembling steps and uncovered head 
he passed down to the tomb. The secrets of that 
meeting of the living with the dead no one knows ; 
but when the aged veteran came forth again his 
face was covered with tears. He then took his son 
and secretary by the hand and led them into the 
vault. He could not speak — his bursting heart was 
too full for utterance, and he mutely pointed to the 
coffin of Washington. They knelt reverently beside 
it, then rising, threw themselves into LaFayette's 
arms and burst into tears. It was a touching scene, 
there in the silent vault, and worthy the noble 
sleeper. Thence he went to Yorktown and then 
proceeded south, passed through all the principal 
cities to New Orleans, and thence up the Missis- 
sippi to Cincinnati and across to Pittsburg. Wher- 
ever he went the entire nation rose to do him hom- 
age. ' Honor to LaFayette,' ' Welcome to LaFay- 
ette, the nation's guest,' and such like exclamations 
had met him at every step. Flowers were strewed 
along his pathway, his carriage detached from the 
horses and drawn by the enthusiastic crowd along 
ranks of grateful freemen who rent the heavens with 
their acclamations. Melted to tears by these dem- 
onstrations of love, he had moved like a father amid 
his children, scattering blessings wherever he went. 



168 HISTORICALS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. 

Qns of his last acts in this country was to lay the 
cornerstone of the Bunker-Hill monument. It was 
fit that he, the last survivor of the major-generals 
of the American Revolution, should consecrate the 
first block in that grand structure. Amid the silent 
attention of fifty thousand spectators, this aged vet- 
eran and friend of Washington, with uncovered head, 
performed the imposing ceremonies, and ' Long live 
LaFayette,' swelled up from the top of Bunker Hill." 

During his stay he made a tour of nearly five 
thousand miles, and was welcomed by more than ten 
millions freemen. At Washington he was received 
by the Plouse of Representatives and Senate, who 
voted him two hundred thousand dollars and a town- 
ship of land in Florida, " in consideration of his im- 
portant services and expenditures during the Amer- 
ican Revolution." He received from the president, 
J. O. Adams, a. national farewell, and on the 8th of 
September, 1825, he sailed down the Potomac on 
board the frigate Brandywine, and off the coast of 
Virginia he beheld for the last time the shores of 
his adopted country. He was followed by the ben- 
edictions of twelve millions grateful hearts. 

Gen. LaFayette was once more called into public 
life at the time of the revolution in France in 1830. 
He again received the command of the national 
guards, and was made Marshal of France, the highest 
military office in the kingdom. He resigned in 
December, and lived quietly the rest cf his days. 
He died ten years after his visit to America, on the 
20th of May, 1835, and left a name which will ever 
be venerated by the American people next to that 
of the honored and beloved Washington. 



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